Fran Betters ties his famous Ausable Wulff. Watch the late legend tie this legendary fly. Brought to you by the Forest City Fly Shop, in London, ON. forestcityflysh...
Fran was a legend, he taught me how to tie his flies as we chatted for hours. Fran made me a rod and gave me a fly vise he had mad e . Miss him dearly.
I met him at his shop in the 90s when I was a kid. Would watch him back there tying and talking to my Dad about the hatches and fishing reports. Crazy memories this brings back. We'd make a few trips a summer from where I lived near Potsdam to fish the Ausable.
From the time I was old enough to tie on a fly, we would stop by the shop every time we were in Wilmington. Fran never seemed to change. Always friendly always willing to chat. He is missed.
I have to look at this video every once in a while, especially during winter. What a great fly that I fish often when it starts getting dark. The white wings are easy to see during the drift.
I met him in the mid 90s at his shop! Every summer my Dad took us to the Ausable fishing and we always went in his shop to buy flies. Got to watch him tying which was pretty cool for a fly fishing obsessed kid to see! He's a legend!
I was privileged to meet Mr. Betters at his fly shop. What a great man. He tied his wolff and a caddis fly using the Australian possum for me. I bought them as examples. I have fished them and the Ausable Bomber on central Pa. streams and they are very effective flys. Thank you Mr. Betters!
I was a kid with my dad when I first met Fran. He was just getting back and raring to go after the long recovery from the accident, building rods, tying flies and fishing! It was almost painful to see him wading with crutches and a fly rod but he was not going to let that stop him. He'd joke how he no longer needed a wading staff. He was a a gentle and genuine soul. My dad built the vise Fran is using in this clip.
I sat and watched him for hours and talked fly tying. He could really crank'em out fast. He tied dozens a day. He'd talk and never miss a beat. Certainly wasn't cheap with the hackle. Dyed all his own Possum and got Chucks from locals. He'd have big patches of each on his lap. Never sat hunched at a desk under a lamp that I saw, he sat back all relaxed chatting away and he wore an apron and everything was on his lap. Guys would be standing there hanging on every word.
I love his old school style. No stacking, no hackle measurement. He eye balled it all and just tied it in and wasn't shy as you point out about loading up the hackle. I bet those flies were good for a hundred trout as he stated. I should be so lucky to catch that many on one fly or many others for that matter. Great video.
this guy should be known and admired by any and all people involved in flyfishing and flytying...legend status and a shame other people got credit for patterns he invented but thats a whole other topic... his Usual i still and always will believe is the most productive dryfly pattern ever invented...RIP Mr. Betters....
I get more mileage out of his "Usual" fly and all of it's variations, born from it, than any other dry fly pattern. It's my absolutely favorite dry fly...and wet fly. Yep... I pull it under the water when the situation calls for it. Sink it for a smashing emerging nymph... It's DEADLY!! Snowshoe rabbit foot is the absolute best fly material. Period! As a dry, after a fish tags it... One false cast and it's back in action. No worries about hackles, or slimed cdc. One or two material flies that take a couple minutes at most to tie. They don't have time to become your little buddy while on the tying bench. You'll fish the hell out of them.
I recall stopping in his shop with a book he wrote,"Fishing the Adirondacks", in the early 90's. I regret never having him sign it. I am not sure why I never got his signature. I recall hewas friendly and to this do I refer to the book.
Fran lured me to his shop in 2006, I believe-- during the off season. Plenty of fish.he said. Drove from the middle of long Island. His guide was an ex military young punk who was stealing Fran's business by giving out his own guiding card and offering cheaper rates. I was a lot younger and dumber. The guide set me straight on the fishing situation though. He convinced me to have the trip take place in the salmon river at altmar, under Fran. We caught nothing and I listened to the idiot's ramblings all the way there, during the fishing and on the trip back. Fran seemed nice enough, though every moment he had my attention was an unabashed opportunity to sell me a reel a book or a rod etc. He was pretty pushy. His kitchen made me the meal I ate after the long ride up. The most God awful cheeseburger I ever ate. Trip was a complete waste of time and money. It was filled with ugly dishonesty by Fran and his guide and excessive Hawking of wares. And that's how it was! I had high expectations. Meeting lefty kreh was a much much better experience.
Fran would burn down the forest if he thought it would make him money. Growing up he pushed his “fly floating liquid” at the expense of the river. It was made out of kerosene and wax or something like that. There would literally be grease flowing down the river when you used it and he pretended like it was some sort of secret liquid. He knew it was bad for the river but the environment always takes the back seat to profit.
@@frankrizzo819That’s an old Bergman recipe. It was white gas and paraffin. You’re supposed to put it on your flies and let it dry. Then fish with it. I made some one time and it was superior to anything else. The only drawback was if tie cold it separates. That’s why you dunk all flies at home and let it dry.
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Thank you for this video, Fran was my uncle and it's great to hear him talk flies again.
Fran was a legend, he taught me how to tie his flies as we chatted for hours. Fran made me a rod and gave me a fly vise he had mad e . Miss him dearly.
I met him at his shop in the 90s when I was a kid. Would watch him back there tying and talking to my Dad about the hatches and fishing reports. Crazy memories this brings back. We'd make a few trips a summer from where I lived near Potsdam to fish the Ausable.
From the time I was old enough to tie on a fly, we would stop by the shop every time we were in Wilmington. Fran never seemed to change. Always friendly always willing to chat. He is missed.
I have to look at this video every once in a while, especially during winter. What a great fly that I fish often when it starts getting dark. The white wings are easy to see during the drift.
People often accuse me of tying fast, but this is next-level. No hackle-pliers, manual knotting, GREAT!
Thanks for the memories. I stood by that bench and watched him tie. He was a character - and the flies he tied are still in my box - well used.
It's great that you put this up for all of us who never got a chance to meet him in person.
Thanks so much
I love watching the late fran betters tie this fly.
Phenomenal work looks simple in his hands. 🥇
I met him in the mid 90s at his shop! Every summer my Dad took us to the Ausable fishing and we always went in his shop to buy flies. Got to watch him tying which was pretty cool for a fly fishing obsessed kid to see! He's a legend!
I was privileged to meet Mr. Betters at his fly shop. What a great man. He tied his wolff and a caddis fly using the Australian possum for me. I bought them as examples. I have fished them and the Ausable Bomber on central Pa. streams and they are very effective flys. Thank you Mr. Betters!
Thanks for sharing this video. Awesome footage of a tying legend.
I was a kid with my dad when I first met Fran. He was just getting back and raring to go after the long recovery from the accident, building rods, tying flies and fishing! It was almost painful to see him wading with crutches and a fly rod but he was not going to let that stop him. He'd joke how he no longer needed a wading staff. He was a a gentle and genuine soul. My dad built the vise Fran is using in this clip.
That’s a really nice vise, I was wondering the story behind it
I sat and watched him for hours and talked fly tying. He could really crank'em out fast. He tied dozens a day. He'd talk and never miss a beat. Certainly wasn't cheap with the hackle. Dyed all his own Possum and got Chucks from locals. He'd have big patches of each on his lap. Never sat hunched at a desk under a lamp that I saw, he sat back all relaxed chatting away and he wore an apron and everything was on his lap. Guys would be standing there hanging on every word.
I love his old school style. No stacking, no hackle measurement. He eye balled it all and just tied it in and wasn't shy as you point out about loading up the hackle. I bet those flies were good for a hundred trout as he stated. I should be so lucky to catch that many on one fly or many others for that matter. Great video.
this guy should be known and admired by any and all people involved in flyfishing and flytying...legend status and a shame other people got credit for patterns he invented but thats a whole other topic... his Usual i still and always will believe is the most productive dryfly pattern ever invented...RIP Mr. Betters....
Very nice pattern
Fran is a legend. All these new age fancy tiers with their hair stackers and hackle gauges lol.
I get more mileage out of his "Usual" fly and all of it's variations, born from it, than any other dry fly pattern. It's my absolutely favorite dry fly...and wet fly. Yep... I pull it under the water when the situation calls for it. Sink it for a smashing emerging nymph... It's DEADLY!! Snowshoe rabbit foot is the absolute best fly material. Period! As a dry, after a fish tags it... One false cast and it's back in action. No worries about hackles, or slimed cdc. One or two material flies that take a couple minutes at most to tie. They don't have time to become your little buddy while on the tying bench. You'll fish the hell out of them.
Awesome! not many video of the Legend himself tying his his flies!
I've also caught carp on the surface with them. If your so inclined. Probably my favorite summer time pastime.
I recall stopping in his shop with a book he wrote,"Fishing the Adirondacks", in the early 90's. I regret never having him sign it. I am not sure why I never got his signature. I recall hewas friendly and to this do I refer to the book.
I hope you enjoyed this bit of rare footage of your uncle.
thank you my mentor!
A Lovely traditional dry fly
Fran was the man
No I haven's used this at the pond. No reason it wouldn't work though. I've used it on the rivers in Michigan and on the Grand.
No.. I live in London ON. Born and raised in Michigan.
nice fly
Fran lured me to his shop in 2006, I believe-- during the off season. Plenty of fish.he said. Drove from the middle of long Island. His guide was an ex military young punk who was stealing Fran's business by giving out his own guiding card and offering cheaper rates. I was a lot younger and dumber. The guide set me straight on the fishing situation though. He convinced me to have the trip take place in the salmon river at altmar, under Fran. We caught nothing and I listened to the idiot's ramblings all the way there, during the fishing and on the trip back. Fran seemed nice enough, though every moment he had my attention was an unabashed opportunity to sell me a reel a book or a rod etc. He was pretty pushy. His kitchen made me the meal I ate after the long ride up. The most God awful cheeseburger I ever ate. Trip was a complete waste of time and money. It was filled with ugly dishonesty by Fran and his guide and excessive Hawking of wares. And that's how it was! I had high expectations. Meeting lefty kreh was a much much better experience.
Fran would burn down the forest if he thought it would make him money. Growing up he pushed his “fly floating liquid” at the expense of the river. It was made out of kerosene and wax or something like that. There would literally be grease flowing down the river when you used it and he pretended like it was some sort of secret liquid. He knew it was bad for the river but the environment always takes the back seat to profit.
@@frankrizzo819That’s an old Bergman recipe. It was white gas and paraffin. You’re supposed to put it on your flies and let it dry. Then fish with it. I made some one time and it was superior to anything else. The only drawback was if tie cold it separates. That’s why you dunk all flies at home and let it dry.