ADK Tied – Blue Line Fly Fisher

The Adirondack Style of Fly Tying

ADK Tied / Rob / September 2, 2023

As I have travelled this summer fly fishing for trout in a number of states, a question came to my mind, “Is there really an Adirondack Fly Tying Style?” I cast flies for trout in Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, all places where there is plenty of angling history, and certainly regional fly tying styles, but is there really an Adirondack style? In Maine, Carrie Stevens is certainly well known, and there are ageless landlocked salmon patterns. Pennsylvania also has patterns known for the state— think of the Marinaro dry flies. Or what about the Clouser smallmouth bass patterns? Yet, can the Adironadacks claim a style? Simply put, I say yes!

The first Adirondack fly tyer of renown was a man who lived in Rome, New York, and his name was William Scripture, Jr., a lawyer and the son of a famous New York State Supreme Court Judge. Scripture, Jr. learned fly tying by reverse engineering the flies of Ida Wolcott, a fly tackle dealer from the same area. Scripture tied his flies by holding the hook in his hand, not in a vise, and his patterns were rugged, yet highly effective.

Lee Wulff created the hallowed series of hair winged flies, the Wulffs (Grey Wulff, White Wulff, and Royal Wulff) out of a disdain for the English style of dry flies that took root in the Catskills. Granted the Catskill flies are very effective, but they were designed for waters that don’t flow as fast and rough as the West Branch of the Ausable River. Wulff’s flies floated well in rough water, and were eagerly taken by big hungry trout in the high flows and the pocket water of Adirondack rivers. Wulff also tied his flies in hand, with no vice or tools.

Another Adirondack tyer of fame, was Ray Bergman, the beloved Fishing Editor of Outdoor Life magazine. Bergman is known today for his brilliant book “Trout” and his many wet fly patterns, but what most do not know is he had his beginnings and inspiration from his fishing expeditions with his wife Grace in the waters of the Adirondacks near Cranberry Lake. He created nymphs, wet flies, and the streams of this region inspired many of his patterns.

Wulff’s flies, like all other brilliant inventions, were tinkered with by other inventors. Perry Ehlers, who lived along the Upper Hudson River in Warren County, was another Adirondack fly tyer, and his patterns were tough, maybe somewhat simple compared to fancier flies, but were built to catch a lot of fish before falling apart. Ehler’s mentored another tyer, Ed Bendl, who eventually established a popular fly shop in Northville, New York.

Bendl once tried to teach a fly tying class, but had students ask him why the way he tied differed so much from the available books of the day, and his humble answer was that was how he was taught to tie. According to Bendl, Adirondack flies were supposed to be tough, and while they were not the prim and polished flies that other places in the Northeast are known for, they work very well.

Fran Betters is well known as an Adirondack fly tyer, and again, his patterns are geared towards the rough waters of the West Branch of the Ausable River, His pattern, the Ausable Wulff, is a fly that catches trout anywhere where attractor fly patterns work. His creations extended beyond the fly that was inspired by the Wulff series, he created the Haystack, and the Usual, among other patterns, furthering the work of those who came before him. His contributions were so great, that the town where he lived honored him with a memorial that includes metal sculptures of his three most famous flies.

So is there an Adirondack style? I posit that there certainly is. Adirondack flies aren’t always pretty and can be roughly tied compared to other methods, but they sure hold up for catching a bunch of fish. History may not have documented the Adirondack style of fly tying as well as it should, but it can’t be denied that there is an Adirondack fly tying style.

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The Good, the Bad, and the [Ausable] Ugly

ADK Tied, Fish Food / Nate / August 4, 2023

The Good

This summer George and I had the opportunity to fish with Richard Garfield, an independent guide based in Wilmington, NY and owner of Fly Fish the Adirondacks for over 20 years. I wanted to fish with Rich after coming across the Ausable Ugly fly pattern while researching Adirondack flies last winter. I had tied a dozen or so over the winter, but had this idea not to fish with them until I could spend a day on the water with the pattern’s creator.

We met Rich at six in the morning. It had been raining steadily since the previous evening. Everything had become saturated overnight, and it was not looking like it was going to lighten up at any point in the morning.

We discussed options and expectations for the day, then George and I decided to try a small stream that Rich said had a good mix of brook and brown trout. After a drive through the North County, we parked along a non-descript road, from which Rich led us through the woods to get to the stream.

Before we entered the stream, Rich asked, once we were in the stream, to remain within the stream bed and to be careful to not step on any of the riparian vegetation, showing that he is a steward as much as he is a guide.

We fished upstream hitting pockets and the banks with dry flies, and drifted nymphs through the deeper and faster runs. Our dry flies included: Usuals, Haystacks, Ausable Bombers, various Wulffs, Caddis, Stimulators, Micro Chubbies, and Grumpy Frumpies, among others. A little ways up the stream, Rich asked why we hired him. I told him it was because of the Ugly. Upon hearing this reason Rich pulled out a size eight Ugly from his stash. That fly became the dedicated nymph for the rest of the day.

Rich had us try a run underneath significant low overhanging branches from multiple trees with the Ugly. After a number of casts that turned up nothing, I asked Rich to show us how it was done. Rich accepted, got in position and proceeded to make a targeted cast, letting Ugly drift down, retrieving the line with a figure-eight technique. Rich proceeded with a second cast, and on the retrieve hooked and brought in the nicest brook trout of the day. George and I alternated prospecting everywhere that looked fishy. We caught countless fish ranging from 5” brook trout to 14” brown trout. It was a very productive day.

The Bad

The constant rain made it necessary to change flies frequently. No amount of fly shake could counteract the precipitation and humidity we were experiencing. During one of these fly changes, Rich saw me holding my compartment box over the water while selecting my next fly and said that holding an open compartment box over the stream was quite risky and noting that he had seen several fly boxes lost to the swift current over the years. I acknowledged his warning and agreed that I was living dangerously, but continued to make all of my fly changes this way for the rest of the day.

In the last thirty minutes of our trip, I paused to change to a fresh dry fly once again. I moved to close the box and next thing I knew, it left my hand tumbling toward the torrent below along with 90% of my dry flies. I recovered the box, but the vast majority of my flies were washed away as the water rushed in, lifted them out of the compartments, and carried them off down stream, presumably into the mouths of trout lying in wait.

George joked that I educated the stream, suggesting that my unintentioned buffet would teach a thing or two to the all too eager trout. In reality it was I that received an education from the river. With my new honorary degree in humility, I am reassessing my method for carrying dry flies on the water. Rich said I was playing with fire. I didn’t listen. And I got burned. The moral of the story… Listen to your guide.

The [Ausable] Ugly

Our time spent with Rich was an enjoyable day of fishing and shooting the breeze. Rich is an unpretentious guide who is willing to teach and share his knowledge of the region, which made for a memorable trip. George and I enjoyed our time with Rich, and fishing a new stream.

Rich graciously critiqued the Ausable Uglies I tied. He showed me where I could improve the pattern the next time I tied them, and gave me two of his for reference. His observations and suggestions included:

Bead: A tungsten bead is best and necessary. A 4mm bead for a size 8 hook works well. (We were fishing a size 8 throughout the day. The heavy bead allowed the fly to get down quickly with all its dubbing and hackle, even in faster currents.)
Tail: The tail should be about the hook shank in length. (Or twice the length than what I had tied.)
Dubbing: Generously apply to the dubbing to the thread in a loose noodle. When wrapping it around the hook shank, it should not be wrapped too tightly. This will ensure better results when picking out the dubbing later on.
Hackle: Selecting a very soft and mangy hackle is important. This will create the most movement, softer hackles will undulate more in the water. Avoid stiff hackles. Rich said he will even use hackles mangled, or that others might even avoid using.

Overall the pattern wants to be soft and chewy. He named it the Ugly for a reason. We fished it dead drift, with little jigs, and stripped it like a streamer. It is an incredibly versatile fly and I have used it to great success on multiple occasions this summer on other streams. Rich also said that he uses it fishing for Great Lakes steelhead, something that I will try this fall and winter.

If you find your way up in the northern part of the Adirondacks, near Wilmington and Lake Placid, I recommend getting in touch with Rich. He offers trips for both warm water and cold water species, small streams, and has access to some private water. He can be reached through his website: https://flyfishtheadirondacks.com/.

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The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing Cover Image

The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing – A Review

Leave a Comment / ADK Tied / Nate / May 28, 2023

The heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks has received little attention compared to the Catskills. A significant portion of what has been written about fly fishing in New York centers around this sister range to the Adirondacks. As the namesake of a style of dry fly, the influence the Catskills have had on fly fishing in the United States is undeniable. Fly fishing in the Adirondacks may be overshadowed by the many other contributions the region has made throughout history in areas such as outdoor recreation, architecture, and the environmental movement. Nevertheless, searching for resources on the history of fly fishing in the Adirondacks leads to few results. The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing, by Robert Streeter, begins to change this trend.

The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing is the book I was looking for when I decided to learn to tie and fish with Adirondack specific flies. My early searches led to few quality resources that included a couple tutorials for some of Fran Better’s more well known patterns on Youtube, or the occasional pattern included in a general fly tying book. Streeter’s book has proved to be an instrumental resource on Adirondack fly fishing.

In his book, Streeter traces the history of fly fishing from colonial times on through the lives of several notable local figures: William E. Scripture Jr., Ray Bergman, Lee Wulff, Perry Ehlers, Ed Bendl, and Francis Betters. It provides the context missing from many online fly tutorials, giving the reader a glimpse into the lives of these tyers and anglers, and the places they lived and fished. Several patterns and recipes from these greats of Adirondack fly fishing are sprinkled throughout the narrative of the book. Streeter’s storytelling and references make it clear that the Adirondacks have had a greater impact on fly fishing than has previously been written and is deserving of recognition.

The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing merges the genres of history and biography in an informative, easy to read narrative. The amount of research and effort Streeter undertook in the process of writing this book is evident in the storied details he provides from interviews and communicating with friends and family of these Adirondack legends. The book is available at several regional and online retailers, but is also available for purchase on the author’s website www.robstreeter.com.

Streeter has also authored an article in Fly Tyer Magazine titled “Great Flies of the Adirondacks.” The article introduces several dry flies, nymphs, and streamers tied by the anglers in his book and includes the recipes. He also has a series of Youtube tutorials tying Adirondack flies that includes many of the flies discussed in his book. Streeter’s book, article, and tutorials are great starting points for anyone interested in exploring the heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks. The Greats of Adirondack Fly Fishing is deserving of a place on any Adirondack bookshelf.

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Introduction and ADK Tied

ADK Tied / Nate / May 27, 2023

It is said that an angler’s goals change as one progresses through fly fishing for trout. At first, they may spend weeks trying to catch their first fish. As they advance, they will want to catch numbers, or they may be determined to only pursue big fish. At some point, they finally come to the realization that they just want to fish the way they want to. Whether that is a particular technique, a time of day, or a water type, is a matter of personal choice. For me, this progression evolved into a current interest in regionality. In other words, tying and fishing patterns that are culturally or historically linked to the Adirondacks, the place where I first learned to fly fish.

When I started fly tying in December 2021, the volume of books and resources available on the internet was overwhelming. It seemed like everyone and their mother had a meticulously curated Youtube channel dedicated to fly tying with patterns old and new. I came across many contemporary, flashy patterns that will probably catch fish anywhere. These are no doubt fun to fish with. However, I started to wonder, if a fly is that successful, does that dilute the value of catching the fish that eats it? To me, regional context, where I fish and the fly I tie at the end of my leader, matters. As I continued to gain more experience, I began considering how to become more intentional with my own tying. Learning to tie and fishing with fly patterns from the Adirondacks have become my interest. My flies don’t need to be perfect: I want to do my own thing.

The initial inspiration for Blue Line on the Fly came from this desire to learn about the regional fly patterns of the Adirondacks, and share the information and resources found through this research with others. This exploration of context is an attempt to merge contemporary fly fishing with the past, with an attention to the regional heritage of fly fishing in the Adirondacks.

Forthcoming posts to the ADK Tied series of the blog will explore the patterns that have significance in the Adirondacks and see what fish we can catch with them. The goal will be to tie a different pattern, fish with it, and share what I learn about every two weeks or so. These posts will be aligned with the Fly Box page of the website. There you can see a list of patterns to explore, and more information on the patterns will be provided after we highlight each in a dedicated post.

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