DF21. The Tup's Indispensable Dry Fly

THE TUP'S INDISPENSABLE FLY PATTERN
A deservedly popular fly designed by Mr R.S.Austin, a tobacconist of Tiverton in Devon, South West England in 1900. He dressed and sold flies as a sideline. This version of the old 'Tup' pattern is popular when pale midge or mayflies are on the menu. It is fished dry on the water and moved slowly amongst fish that are feeding near the surface. It can be used effectively in these conditions or for high summer when reduced water flow and high temperatures can make the trout very fussy. It is a useful pattern used to represent light colored mayfly like the pale watery or small spurwing female spinners.

Mr Austin sent a sample of dubbing with tying instructions on how to tie an unnamed fly pattern which he had found particularly successful in imitating female olive spinners to Mr G.E.M. Skues, father of modern nymph fishing. Skues followed the instructions and made the fly. He spent most of the following September testing the fly on his local water the River Ichen and was so impressed that he published his findings. He also found it was a very effective imitation of a Pale Watery natural insect. He is accredited with naming the fly and suggesting the addition of the crimson seal fur giving the thorax a pinkish hue. The recipe for the pattern was kept secret and thus Mr Austin obtained a monopoly on selling the fly. The article was widly read and lots of orders were placed. “The fly became so popular that Mr Austin became utterly sick of tying it,” Skues wrote in a letter. He was one of two people given the dressing secret by Mr Austin. It was kept a secret until after his daughter, who continued the business, had retired. 

Why is it called Tup's Indispensable? Well the 'Indispensable' part comes from the fact that it should not be left out of your fly box as it is such a good fish taker. The 'Tup's' part of the flies name refers to a Ram, a male sheep that is used for breeding. In Britain farmers use a sponge or rag soaked in dye tied to the under side of the Ram. In the morning they inspect their flock and see which females have dye stained backs from being 'tupped' by the Ram. The original material for this fly was urine and dye stained wool taken from a ram's fleece mixed with lemon colored fur from a spaniel and a little yellow mohair, replaced later with crimson seal's fur. Do not panic! We use modern materials that are the same color but not as smelly.

DRY FLIES
The dry fly is designed to float on the surface of the water. To prevent it sinking, water repellent hackles are wound around the hook to distribute the weight over the surface of the water. The hackles also simulate the legs and splash of an aquatic or terrestrial insect trapped on the water surface. Most Dry flies are deceivers designed to imitate a specific natural fly like the crane fly, ant and hopper series of flies. Other flies like the Adams are more general designs that are just intended to produce an edible looking fly. Dry fly fishing has always been regarded as the supreme art in fly fishing circles. Accurate presentation of the fly can be essential. Trout will rise to a variety of natural flies but as far as the dry fly fisherman is concerned the mayfly hatch has to be the favored time. In almost all instances where trout feed on drowning insects the rule is not to move the fly. An imitation is far more likely to succeed if it is cast out and then left. So long as it is cast in the right spot.

The color of the fly is always important when matching the hatch, then size is the next important decision. The artificial fly does not have to be a precise imitation of the natural insect, but what is important is how and where it is presented in relation to the depth of water. This includes the height at which the fly floats above the surface of the water. Some fish will greedily take flies that are floating in the surface but ignore flies that are floating above it and visa versa depending on the conditions that day. Use your eyes to see which natural insects the fish are taking. A high-floating dry fly will have more chance of being taken on a bright day because of its visibility, but if it does not dent the surface film on a dull day it will be less effective. A fly floating in the surface on a sunless day leaves a much more visible halo of outlining light which surrounds it.

MAYFLIES
Some adult mayflies hatch throughout the year but other species hatch only during certain months of the year. The term Mayfly applies to all members of the order of insects not just those that emerge in May. There are hundreds of fly patterns tied to imitate the many different mayflies and stages of their development. The natural insect belongs to the group of insects called Ephemeroptera. Ephemeros means 'lasting a day' and peteron means 'a wing'. Mayflies have cylindrical bodies, slender legs and two pairs of veined wings which are held vertical when at rest. They are found all over the world and are commonly called up-winged flies in some areas. The adults do not feed and live for only a very short time: most less than a day and some only for a few minutes. 

The aquatic Mayfly nymphs moult anything from 12 to 50 times and take up to two years to reach adulthood. The fully grown nymph swallows air and floats to the surface where it emerges into the subimaginal stage. The mayfly is very vunerable to attack at this time from under the water surface and from dragon flies from above the surface. The dull winged subimaginal winged insect flies to rest on nearby plants if it survives. Mass swarms of emerging mayflies occur at dawn or dusk to reduce the chances of single insects being taken.

The final molt to the hairless adult with shiny wings can take place in anything from a few minutes to a few days depending on the species. Adults are known as 'spinners' and when they die and fall onto the water they are known as 'spent spinners'. The prime motivation for spinners is to mate before they die. After mating female spinners drop their eggs into the water. Some females species swim down to attach their eggs to submerged vegetation or objects. Others just land on the water surface making tempting targets for hungry trout. In any square yard or meter of a stream there may be a few hundred to many thousand mayfly nymphs. They are an important part of any predator fish's diet.