March Brown Dun

[wiFlyFisher]

What pattern(s) are you guys using today for the March brown duns (Maccaffertium vicarium)?

[ewpeper]

Not that I fish that hatch much anymore, but the last time I did my favorite pattern was a parachute design that used most of the same materials as the traditional Catskill (Flick) pattern. The principal differences in my fly were a wing (woodduck flank fibers tied as a post) that slanted backward at about a 70 degree angle to the shank and split microfibbet tails. The parachute hackle was a mix of brown and grizzly. Hook when I tied it last was a #10 94840.

Eric

[upstatetrout]

Their is only one fly to fish it's called the biggun.

Tom

[catskilljohn]

I think the world needs to see the Biggun Tom. The secret is out now

Funny story, a few years ago, I stopped by the Catskill White House and Tom and Martha were there, Martha found somebodys C&F fly box while they were on the river. We opened it up and among the selection of flies in it was an honest-to-god Tom Mason Biggun! That was cool! CJ

[wiFlyFisher]

Okay fellas, what the heck is a "biggun"? We have a great March Brown hatch here too and I figured you guys would steer me in the right direction. I need a killer pattern.

[upstatetrout]

I got to recharge the batteries for the camera.Gotta wax the truck today.All my stuff is back home.But I can tell you the fly is brown.Oh yeah gotta finish raking up the yard
and the drier won't work ,Gotta find my tools.Whine,whine,whine (cheese)

Tom

Maybe John will give it a try.

[catskilljohn]

I would give it a try, but I dont remember enough details to get it right. The 2 things I do remember are... 1) it was big, 2) it was the biggest fly in the box

I will try one, and Tom can make the needed corrections. CJ

[catskilljohn]

Here it is from memory, its been a few years since I saw that one in the fly box at Mikes.

Moose mane tail
fox body with brown thread rib
brown Z-lon wing and cree hackle



CJ

[upstatetrout]

Pretty good I tie them size 10 1x long and use gold Hi vis for the wing. Cree is good I use Grizzly died brown and the body should be darker
another good tailing is woodchuck.
Tom

[wiFlyFisher]

Thank you! The fly looks great! One question... in the past when I have tied large parachute patterns they always seem to twist my tippet. How do I avoid that? For that reason I have always tied large extended-body comparaduns, which work okay but not great.