THE BETTY
Every so often we run across a fly that fills several roles in one. Such is the case with the fly I give to you today. This is a really great pattern which was designed as a dry fly but is also fished wet as a streamer pattern. As you can imagine from this traditional body style it's also a great attractor pattern. This fly is extremely popular in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. To the best of my knowledge, it's the only famous fly pattern to ever be developed in the Upper Peninsula.
Materials:
- Hook: Mustad #94840 Sz: 6-12
- Thread: Black, 6/0
- Tail: Red Hackle Fibers, or Red Duck Quills
- Body: First 1/3 Peacock Herl, Second 1/3 Red Floss, Third 1/3 Peacock Herl.
- Wing: White Calf tail, tied trude, extended beyond the bend of the hook.
- Hackle: Brown
Tie in a good base of thread. As you approach the bend of the hook, select your tail material from the material list and tie it in.
Select three strands of peacock herl. Tie them in. Twist them together before wrapping around the shank of the hook. Peacock herl is delicate. By twisting the strands together you are increasing the durability of the fly and the strength of the wrap.
Wrap the peacock forward and secure it with thread. Tie in the red floss.
Wrap your floss forward, secure it with thread and tie in three (3) more strands of peacock herl. Twist them as we did above. Wrap them forward and tie it off.
Tie in the calf tail wing, being sure to extend it beyond the bend of the hook. Secure it with thread.
Tie in your dry fly hackle and wrap it forward. Secure it with thread, finish wrapping the head. Be generous with head cement.
There is no reason that this multi-purpose fly should not work anywhere in the country. This fly was created by the late Bill Nault, from Marquette, Michigan back in the mid to late 1960s. He modified this pattern from the original Betty McNall which was originally created in Denver, Colorado. This fly is also called the Coachman Betty.
See you on the water …..
Tom Deschaine
~www.michigandryflies.net~
For more great info, check out:
Beginning Fly Tying | Intermediate Fly Tying | Advanced Fly Tying.