March Brown dry fly: How to tie this beautiful Upright pattern

Over the years, I’ve tied and fished many March Brown dry fly patterns, but this Upright version is my current favorite because it’s rarely refused, durable, and relatively easy to tie.

I prefer the upright version over the traditional patterns because its body sits in the surface film. It is eagerly taken by trout when March Brown duns (Rhithrogena Germanica) and/or Large Brook Dun (Ecdyonurus Torrentis) are hatching in spring.

How to tie a March Brown dry fly

Fly tying material list:

• Hook: #14 & 12 Kamasan 402
• Thread: Rusty brown 8/0 Uni-thread
• Tail: Grey partridge neck
• Body: WAPSI Fox squirrel dubbing
• Rib: Yellow silk floss
• Wing: Elk deer hair

Step-by-step fly tying instructions:

Step 1. With the hook locked in the vice, start the rusty brown 8/0 thread at the head and take in touching turns to the bend. Opposite the barb, tie in the partridge tail.

Step 2. Take 3 inches of yellow silk floss and split off 2 strands. Then tie 2 of the strands at the bend, which will be used later for the rib of the fly.

Step 3. Take a small bunch of deer hair, remove the guard hairs, and stack. Position the tips of the hair to protrude over the eye by about a hook length. Secure the deer hair on top of the hook such that it forms an upward fam.

Step 4. Wax the rusty brown thread. Then, take a small pinch of the fox squirrel dubbing and lightly dub the thread.

Step 5. Form the body of the fly with the dubbed thread. Make 1 turn of dubbed thread in front of the deer hair wing so that is fans upright.

Step 6. Wind the yellow silk floss forwards to form the ribs and tie off by the eye. Finally, build a small head with the thread, whip finish, and apply varnish.

Fly fishing tips March Brown dry fly

On wild rain-fed rivers and streams, dry fly fishing is often the best approach for trout feeding on the duns as they emerge.

Usually, MB flies hatch at the heads of pools fed by oxygenated water and in the riffle sections of rocky rivers. On the Welsh Dee, where I predominately fish, good examples of pools include:

• Fridge Pool
• Duncan’s Pool
• Pipe Pool
• The Long Meadow

Studying the aforementioned pools will provide a clear understanding of what pools to for on other rivers.

Equipment-wise, I use a 9ft 5# rod for dry fly fishing. Attached to the floating line is a 9ft 5X copolymer leader tipped with a 3 to 4 ft length of 3lb fluorocarbon.

It is important to apply fullers mud to the fluorocarbon tippet to remove its shine and make it sink. Whereas, Mucilin grease is applied to the remainder of the leader.

Acknowledgements:

Lewis Newton for the image of the natural MB dun.

Finally, I hope this article stimulates you to tie this Upright March Brown dry fly and test it on your local river or take a trip to fish the Welsh Dee at Llangollen, where it catches plenty of spring brown trout.