Ausable Cripple

The Ausable Cripple was developed by Bucky McCormick of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone Montana.  Bucky being originally from New York state was familiar with Fran Better’s iconic Ausable Wulff.  He modified the original transforming it into a cripple pattern.  The fly can be fished as an attractor but is used primarily as the dry component of a dry dropper rig. A video on tying this pattern can be seen on the How-To section of Blue Ribbon Flies web page (blueribbonflies.com).

Hook : Dry fly; #12-#16

Thread : Fl Fire Orange

Tail : Elk hair

Body : Rusty orange dubbing

Wing : Grey Widow’s Web or similar

Hackle : Brown and Grizzly mixed, brown dyed grizzly or dark barred ginger

Alan Bowers

Fly tied by Al Bowers