Fran Betters's Ausable River fly, named for his answer when asked what they were biting on. Nothing but snowshoe hare's foot — tail, wing, and the rusty-cream underfur dubbed for the body — on hot orange thread. It floats like a cork through pocket water, refuses to sink, and imitates whatever the fish decide it is.
1. Thread base — Attach hot orange thread and wrap to the bend.
2. Tail — Tie in a small tuft of snowshoe hare foot hair, one shank-length.
3. Wing — At the 2/3 point, tie in a fuller clump of snowshoe foot hair upright, as a single post-like wing. Post around the base.
4. Body — Dub the rusty-cream underfur left from your clumps into a rough body up to and around the wing.
5. Head — Let the orange thread show as a hot head. Whip finish and cement.
hook
thread
tail
wing
body
