Tied by Matt O'Neal of Savage Flies on YouTube
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If you’re tired of dry fly fishing with a size 18 winter caddis or a size 20 midge, you’re not alone. Fortunately, when the March Browns start to show up, things get a little more generous. These bugs are big, bold, and typically land in the size 12–14 range—bringing with them some of the most exciting fishing of the season.
There’s no shortage of March Brown patterns out there. You’ll find them in nearly every fly tying book—nymphs, wets, dries, and emergers. And for good reason: this is a hatch with history. The March Brown first appeared in literature in Dame Juliana Berners’ A Treatise on Fishing with an Angle, published back in the 1490s. That’s about as classic as it gets.
For this version, J. Stockard Pro Tyer Matt O’Neal of Savage Flies ties the wet fly version—specifically, the one from Dave Hughes’ American Fly Tying Manual (1986). It’s a straightforward pattern that fishes well and holds up beautifully in spring currents. With soft hackle movement and a traditional profile, it’s the kind of fly that would’ve made Dame Berners proud.
The March Brown Wet is especially effective during the pre-hatch window, fished just below the surface on a swing, or dead-drifted through riffles and seams. It’s a great way to start the day before switching to dries as fish begin to rise.
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