Flies

Ausable  Gray  Wulff

Origin

This is one of a series of about a dozen patterns made popular by Lee Wulff in about 1929. He developed the “Wulff” series of flies to imitate the large grayish drake and yellow mayflies for the Ausable River in upper New York State.  They are a dry fly tied very heavy and bushy.

Pattern

  • Hook     --  heavy dry fly size 8 thru 18
  • Thread   --  size 6/0 --  black
  • Tail        --  brown calf tail
  • Wing      --  brown calf tail tied upright and divided
  • Body      --  dubbed with muskrat fur
  • Hackle    --  medium or dark blue dun tied as a collar

Tying Instructions

  • Tie on a large bunch of brown calf tail for the tail about the same length as the body
  • Tie on a large bunch of brown calf tail on top of the hook at the quarter point and divide into two upright wings
  • Secure the wings and divide into a “V” by wrapping figure eights with thread
  • Dub on a very heavy body of gray muskrat fur
  • Tie on the hackle feather and wrap four times around the hook as a collar
  • Tie off the hackle feather and wrap a small black thread head
     apply head cement

Flies  Imitated

Very large gray drake and yellow mayflies.

How to fish

They are usually fished in fast waters such as the Ausable as dry flies and can also be skated on the surface.