AuSable Wulff

The Ausable Wulff, created by legendary Adirondack fly tier Fran Betters in the 1960s, is a high-floating attractor dry fly designed for the rough, pocket-water flows of New York’s Ausable River. Betters modified the traditional Wulff style by using rusty-orange Australian opossum dubbing, woodchuck guard hairs for the tail, and a burnt-orange thread head, giving the fly a highly visible profile and rugged durability. Its dense calf-tail wings and stiff hackle allow it to ride confidently in fast, broken currents while still presenting a buggy, impressionistic silhouette that trout respond to eagerly. A regional favorite that grew into a national classic, the Ausable Wulff remains one of Betters’ most beloved and enduring designs.

Fish the Ausable Wulff tight to pocket seams and fast riffles, giving it an occasional micro-twitch—its buoyancy and bushy profile trigger explosive strikes from trout holding in turbulent water.