Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

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tie2fish
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Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by tie2fish » Sat Feb 17, 2018 9:11 am

Several years ago I attended a Fly tying seminar put on by Dave Allbaugh, a guide and tyer from the central Pennsylvania area who teaches his clients how to fish using strictly soft hackled flies. His patterns looked so "buggy" and "fishy" that I wrote down the recipes for three or four and tied some later. His March Brown pattern proved to be an highly successful fish catcher, and I thought some of you might like to see it.

Hook: #14 nymph/wet fly (Daiichi 1710)
Thread: Uni-Thread 8/0, camel
Tail: Grouse tail barbs
Rib: Fine gold wire
Body: Twist dubbed hare's mask (a spun body would also work nicely)
Wing: Slips from mallard or grouse secondary, either folded or paired
Hackle: Grouse

Image
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redietz
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by redietz » Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:38 am

What kind of grouse?
Bob
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tie2fish
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by tie2fish » Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:55 am

As I remember it, Bob, it was English (Red) grouse -- that's what I used. Don't see why ruffed wouldn't work though.
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by letumgo » Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:53 am

Buggy and fishy...definitely! I imagine this would work like a charm.

Thank you for sharing the pattern Bill. It’s a keeper.
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chase creek
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by chase creek » Sat Feb 17, 2018 2:29 pm

Good one, Bill. I have some Ruffed Grouse, think I'll give it a try.
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redsedge
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by redsedge » Sat Feb 17, 2018 3:14 pm

Very nice, Bill. I, too, will have to give this one a go. I like the hackle tied in over the wing.
Jim
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Roadkill
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by Roadkill » Sat Feb 17, 2018 4:13 pm

That is a fine looking fly Bill, as usual. 8-)
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by William Anderson » Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:37 pm

Bill, that’s a fantastic representation of Dave’s March Brown wet fly. I talked to him extensively one day about this hatch on his water (North Central PA) and fishing this wet fly. I came home and tied a bunch of these in sizes matching what we have seen on trips in that area. #10’s. I would fish this fly anywhere but I definitely don’t want to face that hatch on Piney without these. I’ll have to photograph a version of this that incorporates the orange thorax of the Shakey Bealy and his wet fly. I haven’t met the March Browns on Piney armed with these yet but I caught a beautiful brown on the Willow with it last Spring.

Dave could not have been nicer and more eager to share his experience.

Beautifully done, Bill.
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by DOUGSDEN » Sun Feb 18, 2018 9:02 pm

Bill,
This one is a dandy for sure! I love the "reality" of your imitations! In this I mean the painstaking measures you take to get the colors and proportions and textures just right! This is what sets your patterns apart and for your work we thank you, thank you, thank you!
Please keep them coming Bill! Continue to surprise us and please us when we see your name at the head of each thread posting!
A fan forever,
Doug
Fish when you can, not when you should! Anything short of this is just a disaster.
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Re: Allbaugh's March Brown Soft Hackle

Post by Old Hat » Wed Feb 21, 2018 7:25 pm

I love the look of this pattern. It has that old world charm. Well done Bill.
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