Tying Fran Betters' Usual with Davie McPhail

[flytyerman]

i wish i met fran betters as well, he made this on the banks of the ausable, i caught almost all of my trout on some of his patterns

[xixflyfishing]

Davie,

Hi! the Fran Betters book from which his fly the "Usual" came from, do you have it's Title/Name and any other information which may help to trace it across the pond. Definitely no stocks in the UK at this time not even Coch-Y-Bondu which is sad really.

Thanks for this video as always Great Stuff,  from a good guy.

Rod

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Rod(xixflyfishing),

The book is titled Frans Betters' Fly Fishing-Fly Tying and Pattern Guide, I hope you find a copy...ATB Davie

[xixflyfishing]

@DavieMcPhail Thank You very much for the Fran Betters information I will pass it on and hopefully have a copy soon.

ATB Rod

[nitemoovs]

I met Fran 30 years ago. I knew him well. I don't fish much anymore. Its different now and I don't like it. First it was all about the gear (thanks yuppies) but the Gen Xers I see on rivers are worse. They don't really fly fish. I stop by a river or turn on a fly fishing show and they are all high sticking with gobs of lead and nymphs like a bunch meatfishing Europeans. No sense of history. No place anymore for old crumedgeons who fish dry flies and hatches. Where have you gone Ray Bergman.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi nitemoovs,

I wish I had met Frans myself as I'm sure I would have enjoyed his company very much...We all have a preference to the way we want to fish but if you ever come over to Scotland I would be happy to take you fishing the way you would like..I wouldn't let anything make me stay at home as there's plenty of places where we can get lost and enjoy the way we like to fish a fly..

All the best Davie

[warch64]

Matthew my grandson is happy that you said hello he's 9 yrs old and just loves to tie flies, thank you for replying, Fran's most famous fly is the Ausable Wulff, still don't know why he called it Wulff, maybe some input from Lee? Just can't recall. All the best and keep up the excellent work.

[warch64]

Hi, I use to fish the Ausable Chasm in upper NY, I lived then in Montreal and during the '70 I was a professional Atlantic salmon tyer, so I knew Fran and quite suprise to see you tying one of his flies, cause we use to discuss many tying materials and technics then. I now live in Calgary, Alberta some of the finest trout fishing in the west. Thank you for all your vids, my grandson is an avid fan.

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi warch64,

I would have loved to have met Frans as it was a good friend of mine that got me his book and showed me some of his very simple and effective patterns. I have been to Calgary and I can say that it's one of the nicest cities that I have ever been in and seen the famous Bow river as well but unfortunately I never got the chance to fish it as it was in the middle of the winter..say hello to your grandson for me..

All the best Davie

[wtrw001]

Thanks, Davie.

Jan

[wtrw001]

Hi Davie,

thanks for quick answer. Are you using theMucilin Dry Fly Spray or the paste?

All the best

Jan

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Jan,

It's the paste I use, you will find a small velvet patch in it just melt some of the mucilin into it using a hairdryer then when you go to apply it to your fly just rub your finger or thumb on the patch all you want to see is a fine clear shine from your finger this will be enough to coat you fly with no oil slick...ATB Davie

[wtrw001]

Hi Davie,

thanks again and again for your wonderful tying videos. I tied in the last weeks some Usual flies and other snowshoe flies. It is for my Sweden trip in July. I tried their floatability im my bath tube - and they mostly sunk after seconds. I used some Gink, but that "glues" the fibers. Do you have any recommedation for me. I am sure that I tied the right part of the Snowshoe foot and the amount of hair should be ok. also.

All the best

Jan

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Jan,

The best floatant for these dries is Mucilin Silicon which I have used all my fishing carear I believe there's nothing better..I'm not a fan of Gink..

All the best Davie

[TotallyFlyTying]

Hi Davie,

Do you know where I can purchase that book you mentioned in the UK?

I've had a look online but only found American Sites. Certainly looks like a good book,

Many Thanks,

~David

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi David(TotallyFlyTying),

I've had a look but I can't find anyone on the U.K selling Frans book, you may have to look say on ebay over the pond in America..

All the best Davie

[TotallyFlyTying]

Hi Davie,

I'll have a look on eBay.

Thanks again,

~David Strawhorn

[LordDigz12]

Snowshoe is such a great material.

[dryfly5360]

Hi Davie,

The Usual is my "go to fly" here in New England. I love snowshoe rabbit, and us it in place of deer or elk hair when tying stimulators. It's almost unsinkable. Your videos are great! keep them coming.

[dryfly5360]

Hi Davie,

The Usual is my "go to fly" here in New England. I love snowshoe rabbit, and us it in place of deer or elk hair when tying stimulators. It's almost unsinkable. Your videos are great! keep them coming.

[ds2985]

Hi davie love your videos can u use this fly in a river

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi ds2985,

Yes you can as the Usual was tyed for fishing on the rivers..

All the best Davie

[Balleny]

Hi Davie,

I'm sure you heard that Fran passed away, very sad. It's good you are keeping his memory alive with your fantastic videos.

Best,

Andy

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Andy,

I'm sorry but I didn't know that Fran had passed away he was a great ambassador to fly fishing and fly tying he will be sadly missed, my thoughts are with his family..

Davie

[tdematteo01]

The Ususal is an outstanding dry fly and stays high and dry. My go to is his "Haystack". I think you tied one on you tube earlier and crossed hrough the hair wind some CDC? I started doing that too.

Starting out tying with his book about 10 year ago and learning from it has taught me so much. If you can tye on calf tail wings and split and post them right, deer hair will never be a problem:).

Take care. One day I might try a post but my camera is not up to it.

Ted

[tdematteo01]

Davie:

Outstanding fly. I tie mine in olive mostly. I saw Fran this week while in NY. He was in his shop tying but is on Hospice and morphine. It was real sad as I have learned so much from him and time all his patterns. Nice job, and a compliment to a wonderful guy and fly.

Ted

[DavieMcPhail]

Hi Ted,

A friend of mine gave me Frans' book and I really enjoyed reading it and trying some of his patterns especially the Usual in which it caught me a few fish in the smaller sizes like 16s, they worked really well on the lochs too.. It's a great shame to hear that Fran is unwell my thoughts are with him at this time..

All the best Davie

[varkskiet]

Super fly, use in all colors, yellow is my favorite. Thanks for another cracker Davie.