A while back we did some “fly of the week” pattern. I learned a lot about different and unique patterns.
If anyone is interested, I would enjoy seeing your best imitation.
Thanks,
Byron
Never heard of March Browns being tyed on size 16.
Here in the northeast, our March Brown duns are much larger then that. They are typically tyed on 10s or 10xl. Now, although the Gray Fox is now considered the same as the MB by the bug Phd’s, we fly fishers/tyers consider it slightly lighter in color and smaller. It is tyed on 12s and possibly 14s with a different recipe that reflects the difference in color.
Me, too, Alan. I tie my Gray Foxes on a size 12 1x.
Sorry, meant to size 14. Similar to this 14
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw/052900fotw.php
Bryon,
That text is true of comparaduns in general, but not accurate insofar as the specific hook size for tying the dun or spinner of the March Brown. If you want to cite a reference how about going to the primary source - Caucci/Nastasi? In their books they identify the hook size used as either 10, 8 and/or 12 3xl. Now, I can tell you that at Al Caucci’s Delaware River Club those are the sizes used because I tyed at least 100 dozen MB duns and spinners for his shop.
Just want to clarify the size of the immitation.
Western March Browns (Rhithrogena morrisoni) are about a size smaller than American (i.e. Eastern) March Browns (Maccaffertium vicarium). Sizes 10-14 vs. sizes 8-12.
Bob,
As I look in the book ‘Hatches, II’ I find that the Rhith. morrisoni is identified as (paraphrasing) ‘a western hatch that generally emerges in April & May, is approx. 8-9mm and is tyed on a standard 14 or 16 dry fly hook. The “Most Accepted Commopn Name” is the Blue Quill’ (pg 47 Hatches II)
Now, I’m not claiming this is the last word and positively correct, although I do consider the authors to be somewhat non-scientific experts on the subject, so if you have a reference that identifies the Rhith. morrisoni as a ‘March Brown’ that would be interesting.
Thanks, Bob.
Let’s do it this way: can folks please post a photo of at heir most used March Brown dry pattern size?
Thanks,
Byron
Okay Byron. Take a look at this one. Since I wrote the description of the pattern I’ve used it with good success and use the style to tye several large eastern mayflies.
Allan
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v359/Dennis212/California/Trin_02232005_B3_lc.jpg
I guess you gotta look close, but the fish thought that one was the best. :?
Beautiful fish dg
Interesting pattern Allan
Any other entries in highly producing patterns?
The Complete Book of Western Hatches by Rick Hafele and Dave Hughes, Western Mayfly Hatches same authors, Bugwater by Arlen Thomason, Hatch Guide for Western Streams by Jim Schollmeyer… or here http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/entomology/mayfly/march-brown.shtml
I’ve never heard it referred to as a Blue Quill. Maybe that is the common name in the east in order to differentiate it from the American March Brown? In the west, R. morrisoni is brown and hatches in early spring hence the name. On the boards we should probably call it “Western March Brown” to reduce the common name confusion. Size 12 is about average here.
Here’s several:
http://www.west-fly-fishing.com/entomology/mayfly/march-brown.shtml
http://www.flyfishusa.com/flies/march-brown-w.html
http://www.troutnut.com/common-name/200/Western-March-Browns
http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/fly-fishing/Te-Z/Western-March-Brown.html
Or you could look it up in Dave Huges/Rick Hafele’s book on western hatches.
As an aside, the western march brown is more closely related to the original English March Brown (Rhithrogena germanica)than is our eastern version.
They’re all clinger type nymphs, though, and are all similar except for slight differences in size and shade of brown.
Thanks for clearing up the functional name(for us fly fishers, lol) of the Rh. morissoni as it is called in the west. I fully admit my readings are primarily for here in the east. That is why the second sentence in my original post stated, “Here in the northeast”. The description of that fly in the various references you offered makes it sound like a small M.B. However, and for some reason, in Caucci’s book it gives a common name of blue quill. Maybe there was an editing error insofar as the identification? I don’t know. Thanks for the clarification.
Allan
So, where do we stand on a size 14 March Brown?
I have been using a Spundun style Western March Brown. It’s sort of a variation on the Comparadun. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/120103fotw.php
Thanks Jay. Being a big fan of the Sparkle Dun, I admit to overlooking this pattern.
What do you prefer about it v. Sparkle Dun
Byron,
Okay, here’s a fly that I used during March Brown season that proved excellent. It was even ‘field tested’ because my fishing buddy was within 15 feet of me and not doing anything with his M.B. patter. I gave him one of these and he started getting hits. In about an hour of fishing for the 2 of us, we figured this dressing outfished the standard M.B. pattern he had been using by a ratio of 7:1.
Here’s the dressing: standard Catskill March Brown EXCEPT the successful dressing had ‘TUPS’ dubbing for the body. Now I’m not talking any cheap-s**t commercial dubbing. I’m talking about the original TUPS and using seal fur as one of the ingredients. My theory is that the seal dubbing gives the body a sparkle and translucence like no other natural material. Anyway, that’s my suggestion.
Oh, I believe there’s an article on this site about the TUPS dubbing. You might want to view it.
Allan
Byron,
I don’t use a lot of Sparkle duns or Comparaduns. From a tying standpoint the Spundun seems to work out better for me in bigger sizes (14 and larger). And it might float a little better, with the butts of the deer hair not compressed.
Most of the March Brown hatches that I’ve seen – on both sides of the country – have been rather sparse. An insect, then another a few minutes later, kind of a thing. In those circumstance, the fish haven’t been too picky; a Mr. Rapidan in the appropriate size has always worked for me if I’m fishing dries.
Don’t neglect a March Brown flymph if you do wet flies.