What is a March Brown? (and a new hackle supplier)

Like many fly patterns, the March Brown was originally tied as a wet fly to imitate the mayfly duns that typically start hatching in late March or early April. This Catskill style dry fly version has been popular for at least the last 130 years.
Hook: #12-18 dry fly
Thread: Burnt orange or tan
Tail: Ginger hackle fibers
Body: Red fox belly fur dubbing
Hackle: Ginger and grizzly dry fly
** Some of the popular books used on this channel: **
Fly Pattern Encyclopedia: amzn.to/34U0rUe
Mike Valla's "Tying the Founding Flies," 2015, amzn.to/354oSir
Valla's "Tying and Fishing Bucktails..." 2016, amzn.to/3Jg2Mys
Valla's "Tying Catskill-Style Dry Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3DmYOjJ
Valla's "Classic Streamer Fly Box," 2020, amzn.to/3n3Vakf
Dave Hughes, "Essential Trout Flies," 2017, amzn.to/3lbCZYX
Hughes, "Nymphs for Streams and Stillwaters," amzn.to/3HC2jpc
Hughes, "Wet Flies," 2015, amzn.to/33ac3lQ
David Klausmeyer's "Favorite Flies," 2020, amzn.to/3oeSNMa
Randle Scott Stetzer's "Flies, the Best One Thousand," amzn.to/34Q15mp
Terry Hellekson's "Popular Fly Patterns," 1976, amzn.to/2L4IyvS
Dick Stewart's, "Flies for Bass and Panfish," 1992, amzn.to/3aGpFs1
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. Thanks for stopping by.

[@howardmceachern6614]

Thanks for a superb video. The history that you share is always excellent. I am tying like crazy to get ready for the season. Thanks, Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Great to hear Howard! I'm itching to get back out myself. It's almost spring when the bugs really start getting active here in Maryland. I can't wait!

[@gwleathercraft]

Thanks for the video and history lesson. The jacket and tie are very nice touches, too. I'm currently catching up on your dry fly playlist and finding alot of inspiration. I can't wait to put some of them into action this season.

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding! And thanks for the note and kind words my friend. :-)

[@markfritch3168]

I knew the March Brown has been around for a long time but I didn’t know it was 400 years old. 😊 I like the Catskill style also. I have over the years collected many dry and wet capes. For the most part you get what you pay for. Thanks for your videos, they are so enjoyable. Warmest regards Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Wow Mark, I appreciate these kind words! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

Good Morning Sir Matt 😊, it's always a good day when your videos post. I just started tying alot of size 20's, red floss for a tail,small opal mylar stretched to get that blue hue and starling for a hackle it really a good looking bug. This brown in a catskill style is my favorite, I love tying those. Have a great weekend Sir.

[@SavageFlies]

Wow, size 20s are a challenge Edward! Good luck with them my friend. :-) And PS, I saw your email briefly but haven't had a chance to answer all of them yet. Unfortunately I'm going to be out in western Maryland over Easter weekend and my kid's spring break.

[@sidney6376]

Good morning Matt. You do a great job my friend. You and your family have a great weekend. Be safe and fly fish.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Sidney! Hope you had a great weekend too my friend. :-)

[@ybarrajc]

Another one for my list! Thanks Matt have a blessed day my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@crowdaddy8355]

A great honest review and march brown. Thanks Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Chad! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@martyrothman3933]

Thank you for everything Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Marty! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@kenb4685]

Gidday Matt. Thanks for another great video. The review and explanation on the hackle helps a lot.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Ken! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@gregleak5134]

Your opinion is not based on someone's promotion but your real thoughts and that is why you are my fly-tying guru. Greg in Jefferson city mo

[@SavageFlies]

Wow Greg, this is such a great comment to get! Thank you my friend and have a great week. :-)

[@genelangston7194]

Love the March Brown, the Sulfer, and the BWO. If you can tie any one of these, you can tie just about all classic dries. I think good advice is that it's no sin to start all over.

[@laytonmarvin3790]

Thanks Matt for sharing a review about the hackles. With the difficulties in obtaining hackles, it's good to know what else is on the market. Thank you my friend and have a fantastic weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Layton! I hope you had a great weekend too my friend. :-)

[@Hunter711pa]

Nice job Matt that was one of my most productive flies last yr thanks for the video always enjoy watching

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks David! It's always good to hear success stories on the water. :-)

[@carllaski4962]

Appreciate your honest review of the capes

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you Carl! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@brhino1017]

Thank you for an honest review regarding the dry fly hackle. Your channel has become my #1 favorite. Keep up the great work.

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you my friend, I appreciate the kind words!!

[@bayoutrapper]

Top o the mornin' to ya Matt. Great looking tie I must say, both the bug, and the one on your neck. Thanks. God bless sir.

[@SavageFlies]

Well I appreciate it my friend! And I hope you had a great weekend. :-)

[@goldenvise]

Nice traditional dry fly, Matt. I mostly tie that style now out of nostalgia. :)

[@SavageFlies]

I hear you my friend, but man, they still work so I've always for a few rows of Catskill style flies in my box. :-)

[@tompeterson559]

Thank you for the tie and the commentary/opinion! New fishing licenses go on sale tomorrow out here, so some streams and lakes will open.

[@SavageFlies]

Great to hear Tom! Good luck my friend. :-)

[@woodgemdave]

Thanks Matt, I really like your relaxed way of teaching, real easy to watch videos!

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you for these kind words! I appreciate you my friend. :-)

[@bigdaddy99929]

Love these flies both for fishing and tying. Thx Matt. Have a great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Clyde! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@burtonbrocious171]

Looking sharp matt. Tks for the classic pattern 😊

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Burt! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@jamesphillips2216]

Another great fly!! Thanks for sharing Matt!!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it James! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@edherrmann182]

Nice example of the March brown mayfly Dunn. I have been exploring various tiers of catskill flys to find the perfect simple tie. It seems the purists spend more time on the wings And others try to find the perfect hackle. However, functionality , durability, and simplicity is what is most important to me and many tiers and fishers. It’s nice to tie the perfect frame able fly. But after a fish or two the fly gets slimed up and requires a drying period. So in the end, we need to decide if we’re fishermen, or a snob. Basically all catskill types of flys are the same in their genera and materials. Thanks Matt in your efforts to emphasize simplicity and fish ability of all the patterns you demonstrate.

[@SavageFlies]

I couldn't agree more Ed! And to be honest, lots of flies I tie like this, I completely skip the wings. :-)

[@Jd-yc3gw]

Good morning Matt. ☕️ time. Thanks for sharing the hackle supplier info. I picked up a couple on line for tying while down here but I was a little disappointed as I found them to be too small for what I wanted. The gamble when not buying in person I guess. Enjoyed the video and the behind the scenes of the March brown. Looks like it’s going to be a nice day here, might have to go poke around out in the desert. The days here are winding down and many snowbirds have already started the trek northward. Enjoy being down here but it will feel good to be home. Take care Matt, have a great weekend and hope you get a chance to fish.

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, I hear you John. There's nothing like being home. I've been traveling a lot lately myself and am looking forward to a long Easter weekend out at the farm. Enjoy the rest of your time down here!

[@dahutful]

I love tying Catskill wing flies

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it David! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@oldsmugglerflyfishing]

Nice looking tie! The march brown is a fantastic fly. Well done!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@leemowers9395]

Nice looking Mayfly, thanks Matt for sharing the video. well tied.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Lee! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@edwardmlotkiewicz2343]

Very nice tie. I'm partial to the Catskills style since it is what you would fish in the Northeast.

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely Ed! And the great thing is, they work everywhere else too!

[@davehall2160]

Love the history lesson, and it's a good-looking fly, Matt Definitely need to tie up some of them Thanks for the video and have a great weekend

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Dave! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@byronwhitsonwhitson7965]

Greg pateryn I can't wait to get home and try this

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Byron! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@comesahorseman]

Thanks for the hackle tip! 👍

[@SavageFlies]

You bet! I appreciate you watching my friend. :-)

[@marshallbaldwin8960]

Great dry fly Matt! I really like the history on the flies you share. Thanks alot Matt. Have a Great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Marshall! I hope you had a great weekend too my friend. :-)

[@marshallbaldwin8960]

@@SavageFlies I’ve come up with my own streamer fly. I’d like to send it to you for your feedback if you would. How can I se d it to you?

[@SavageFlies]

@@marshallbaldwin8960 Regular email is fine. [e-mail]

[@johnnylightning1491]

Another nice easy fly Matt. I should probably get the vice out, it's getting closer to opening day of trout season every day. Keep the good stuff coming Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Yes indeed Dave! I'm hoping to get out on the water next weekend. :-)

[@joutdoorsmen23]

Cool Matt, great fly thanks for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@PULSEMusicGroup]

Another DOPE vid and nice tie as well (the red tie, lol) PS I see the new "addition" as well sounds great!

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! Thanks Tony. :-)

[@jamesvatter5729]

Thanks Matt!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Jim! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@michaeljmckinnon2960]

Nice work Matt Thanks for sharing and the info on the cape. Ewing markets beautiful caped of Bomber Hackle now or tying salmon bombers. and a full cape is reasonable at $75 Can

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Michael! Yes, they're definitely economical capes. Their full cape is only $50 (US). I'm not sure how they compare to Metz or some of the others but it was a decent cape.

[@jimjobes5187]

Add a brown rib outta thread or Midge tubing to the body Matt it makes a world of difference one of my favorite patterns to fish up here in the Catskills Tight lines 😉

[@SavageFlies]

Great to hear Jim! I love hearing from folks who have some actual experience with the flies I tie on here. Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@jimholland1592]

Hey Matt☕️☕️, It’s hard to believe we are about dunn with March🤭 Great bug, in SC now thought I was going to get some fishing in. But, just found out a dear friend of Joyce’s die so going to a funeral instead. We will be back home maybe Sunday and head to the mountains 🤔 Stay well and see ya soon👍

[@SavageFlies]

Sorry to hear that Jim. I had to go down to NC for a funeral last weekend. And this weekend was out to Salisbury for the marathon. And next weekend will hopefully be a relaxing long weekend at the farm. I'm about ready for a break. :-)

[@pc5439]

Great looking fly Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Phil! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@pc5439]

Matt, thanks, when you get time, I sent you several pictures at email,

[@danielyost9126]

Great review Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Daniel! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@harryjoesather6539]

thanks matt

[@bobhammond8067]

Great fly again!! A sure fish catcher!

[@SavageFlies]

Appreciate it Bob! Hope you had a great weekend my friend. :-)

[@jimkinzer5155]

Just ordered a mini Ewing 9.95. Can't wait to check it out. J Stockard might be my new shop. Good prices. Serious.y doubt quality is bad.

[@rollinlapoint4554]

Sooooo many variants on the March Brown.

[@SavageFlies]

Yes indeed Rollin! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@randymorris8740]

The March Brown was the first fly I ever tied... I didn't even have a vice back then, I used my dad's Vice-Grip pliers... LOL

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! Great story Randy. I can't imagine tying without a vise. :-)

[@jeffjackson5331]

Nice

[@garyweglarz]

I was looking for information on the color of the under-abdomen of the March Brown dun - and it looks like a sort of buff tan color from this?? That's helpful as most flies tied to imitate the March Brown seem to tie the body in the darker brown of the top of the abdomen, though that is not what is most prominent to the fish. Nice tie - thanks.

[@melchurch3019]

I thought about the name March Brown but never bothered to look into it. Now it makes sense. I wonder with a fly like that if it's worth bothering with the upright wings. Other than to follow the historic pattern I don't think the fish notice. If I tie a Wulff the wing helps me see the fly so that is always included.

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, Mel, I've often wondered the same thing about the wings. And honestly, I skip them lots of times too. :-)

[@MyItalians]

Good morning Matt. Nice fly. Curious. You almost never talk about the thread size. Maybe one day you can walk us through the type of threads you use. Have a great weekend.

[@SavageFlies]

Good morning Nich! I try to remember to mention thread size but sometimes forget. I pretty much use a UTC 70 denier for 90% of my flies. I do have an old video out there somewhere on thread- search for "fly tying thread explained "

[@FlyTyer1948]

Matt’ video on threads is at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eISXgaanqsygnLs

[@cheflexx778]

Heading up to the mighty Beaverkill tomorrow for opening day. Weather's going to suck, but it ain't stopping me... I got a lot to tell you. Will text you soon. Be well my friend.

[@SavageFlies]

Good luck Alex! I hope you had a great day up there!! I'm hoping to get out on the Savage over Easter weekend. I haven't been to the farm in a couple of months!

[@MayheM_72]

The price differences between Whiting and Ewing hackles is incredible! There IS a difference in quality, but for me, Whiting is just too expensive. Since I don't tie too many tiny bugs for picky trout (mostly panfish and small bass) I can't justify the price! I usually use cheap hackle. If I was tying them for sale, I would probably get some Ewing hackle and price them accordingly.

[@HunterAnsorge-ok9jk]

Just 10 feathers will pay off the cape or half cape if you know how to use them properly… it comes with 350 feathers per low grade half cape… Stop looking at black market prices.

[@FlyTyer1948]

I love Catskill dries. The wings are cool, & I always include them, but sometimes I wonder if the fish even notice them. (?) Do you ever leave them out?

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, I sure do Bob. I definitely skip them on anything 18 or smaller, and sometimes I skip them on whatever size I'm tying. I go through a lot of sulphurs in the spring and tie them by the dozen. But that's also one of the flies that I think the color really matters. I've always ranked the traits of a dry fly in this order: size, profile, then color. Except maybe for the sulphurs. I think the fish are often keying on something kind of yellow. Of course size and profile do still matter. (But I've caught flies with a yellow humpy during a sulphur hatch when my last sulphur dry fly ended up in a tree.)

[@stephenwilliams8867]

Call it "the old man"

[@dankochanek8056]

Do you always tie bugs in a 3 pcs suit?

[@SavageFlies]

Always! I'm just kidding. This was only a two-piece suit and I recorded this intro right after work. I do often still have my work clothes on when I'm tying, but I'll usually take the jacket off. And BTW, I explained the wardrobe recently in this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e17QZ6SBq9qMjaM

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Hell-who knows anymore! :-) :-) I think it's fine for a classic pattern to evolve to a certain extent. but many of the versions I see are really nothing to do with the original. The only thing they seem to have in common is the colour brown, and even that is often debatable. Many of the variants really should have new names and be doe wth it. :-(

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, I couldn't agree with you more! Thanks for the note. :-)

[@joeduca8582]

Hi Matt, looking exceptionally dapper today. Nice March Brown. Pretty sure one landed on my hand when a friend and I were fishing for bullhead on our local creek one Spring. I said "cool, a mayfly". He said "no it's not". "What!" I said. He replied "no, it's April". Ewing has been around for a while, is this a new price point or pelt cut? Years ago Keough tiers grade necks were $15 at the Gander Mt store so I bought a few. Then the price jumped to $50 and those capes were small but still served a purpose. I guess you get what you pay for, no denying Whiting is top quality but their prices have increased over the years. Have a good weekend Matt, if you go fishing tomorrow don't get "fooled"

[@SavageFlies]

Great comment Joe! I'd like to do a full up comparison of all the common hackles out there. From Whiting to Keough to Metz. And throw in the Ewing and even Hareline. Some of these vendors don't have a lot of dry fly hackle, but will often have hen necks and such. I'm looking on Stockard now and Keough has a starter four-pack of half capes for $55. If those are decent quality, that could be a pretty good buy. I think I'll pick on up and check it out. Never mind. It's out of stock. Of course it is...

[@kirkdonnelly7982]

If you tie alot of catskill style COLLINS HACKLE is the best

[@SavageFlies]

I've never had any Collins hackle Kirk. I'll definitely give them a look!