Fran Better’s Wonderful Dry Fly “The Usual”

Posted on May 31, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Fran Better’s Wonderful Dry Fly “The Usual”

The first time I saw Fran Better’s wonderful dry fly -“The Usual” was in his Adirondack Sport Shop on the West Branch of the Ausable River in Wilmington. As far as dry flies go, the fly was nothing fancy, nothing usual. It was sort of rag-a-muffin thing, looking almost a bit unfinished. But trout loved that rag-tag shaggy appearance, especially in fast water.

It gradually became a legend thanks to Fran’s friend Billy Phillips, a highly accomplished musician, who fished it successfully and often in the Adirondacks. Before you knew it the  popularity of Fran Better’s wonderful dry fly spread far and wide.

The Usual is constructed from a single material – fur from the base of the rear foot pad on a snowshoe rabbit. This tough hair is very waterproof and durable. The wing is placed about halfway back on the shank to balance the fly and spread 180 degrees around the shank, making Eric Leiser call it a bit like a Compara dun. The body is the same hair dubbed on the shank.

All told it is a rugged fly and fairly easy to make. Today Fran Better’s wonderful dry fly is typically done in white, yellow or orange. Thread color varies from white to fluorescent red when fishing over Sulphur duns. Hook sizes range from 10 to 16.

Posted in Flies and Fly Tying, Fly Fishing in Freshwater, On the Road | Leave a comment

Fly-Fishing Vermont’s White River

Posted on May 30, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Fly-Fishing Vermont’s White River

Just returned from a trip to northern Vermont, where I floated the upper main stem of the White River with Owen Ward, head Orvis guide at the Woodstock Inn. Wonderful trip for both stocked and wild trout. The resulting photographs and story will appear in the fall issue of Estuary Magazine!

Posted in Fly Fishing in Freshwater, On the Road | Leave a comment

Observation Bunker at Gay Head

Posted on May 25, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Observation Bunker at Gay Head

Given its Memorial Day, I though this photo might be of interest. It is a concrete bunker built back in the 1940’s as an observation post to watch for Nazi U-boats or planes entering Massachusetts waters. If my memory serves me right, it once resided up in the cliff under the Gay Head Lighthouse. (Now known as the Aquinnah Lighthouse) But erosion caused its to eventually fall to the water’s edge. When? Not sure, but I think it fell some 30 years ago.

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Release Strike Indicator for Stillwater Fishing

Posted on May 24, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Release Strike Indicators for Stillwater Fishing

A couple of posts back, I discussed stillwater fly-fishing for trout. While stillwater fly-fishing can be done with streamers, wet flies and dries, the most common method is nymphing, often with chironomid patterns. Lakes are full of midge larva.

In a stream or river, nymph fishing is typically done under a strike indicator, rarely placed over 3 or 4 feet above the fly. When you go to land a trout, the strike indicator’s position does not interfere with you reaching the fish.  In stillwater, however, the fly may be 8 feet or farther down the leader. Now a convention strike indicator becomes an obstacle when landing the trout.

A release indicator solves the problem. For example, if you feel the stillwater fish are likely ten feet down, you can position a release indictor ten feet up the leader. Now you are fishing at the proper depth. When the strike comes, setting the hook causes the release indicator to side down the leader to the fly. Bingo life is easy. You got to love it!

Posted in Fly Fishing in Freshwater | Leave a comment

Clinging Jellyfish in the Salt Ponds of Southwest Rhode Island

Posted on May 22, 2025 by Ed Mitchell

Clinging Jellyfish in the Salt Ponds of Southwest Rhode Island

My friend Phil just told me of a warning sign in Ninigret Pond in Charlestown, Rhode Island. What’s up? Clinging jellyfish have been found in several salt ponds and they pack a wallop. Apparently, this has been a fact for a few years now, although this is the first I have heard of it.  If you’re fishing the cinder worm hatch in these ponds be sure to wear waders. And try to keep your hands out of the water as much as possible.

Here is a public service announcements from the state of Rhode Island.

2022 PROVIDENCE, R.I.  — Environmental officials in Rhode Island are warning residents about tiny jellyfish that pack a powerful sting.

The state Department of Environmental Management say clinging jellyfish have recently been found in Potter Pond in South Kingstown and Ninigret Pond in Charlestown. The agency said adult clinging jellyfish are about the size of a dime and have an orange-brown cross mark on their transparent bodies. Officials say their sting can be extremely painful and can lead to hospitalization. Symptoms include severe pain, redness from the sting, and possibly respiratory and/or neurological problems. DEM says those symptoms typically last three to five days.

If you have been stung, officials advise to use jellyfish sting sprays or rinse with white vinegar over the site to stop any remaining stinging cells, and to remove any remaining tentacles with tweezers. It is advised to rinse only with hot water. If symptoms do not go away, or the pain strengthens, officials recommend seeking medical attention. In a video posted Friday on the DEM’s Facebook page, officials advise quahoggers and others using shallow, protected waterbodies to wear boots, waders, or wetsuits for protection, and avoid aquatic vegetation like eelgrass where they tend to congregate.

 

Posted in Environment, Fly Fishing in Salt Water | Leave a comment