March Browns

The March Brown was one if the first flies I learned to tie. It is also one of my favorites because I have caught so many fish on it as well as my biggest Beaverkill Brown, a 24in fish back in 1986. My friend Adam, not too long ago had a 22 incher on a size 12 on the East Branch. Those fish were both caught around 11:30am in full sunshine. I generally fish it the first week in June through Fathers day.

The fly seems to immitate so many insects and you can tie it sparse or bushy. I have had the most success with sparser versions that sit in the surface film.

Here are a few I have tied using varying materials. Natural Woodduck, Mallard flank, natural and synthetic tails.

I prefer to use all "natural materials" but have uses everything available to make this fly. There are quite a few variations on the fly but I perfer it using Mallard flank, red fox cream fur and brown spade barbules for the tail. Size 12 does the trick for me.

Hook: size 12
Hackle: Grizzly and brown mixed (2 turns in front and 2 in back of the wing)
Cream fox fur dubbing
Stiff brown tailing fibers from spade hackles
Tread 8/0 tan

Leif