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Fran Betters passed away
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MikeValla
Quiet streams, colorful trout
Thanks for alerting the FF community RE: Fran's Passing. It's really a sad day, and another icon has left us.
PBS is doing a documentay on Fran (We spent a day this summer shooting footage on his Ausable frontage, behind his house, for this important story of Fran's life. Fran was very ill that day and it didn't seem he had many days left).
It will go national, and is supposed to be wrapped up by Feb, 2010). I'll alert everyone when it's due to be on PBS
-Mike Valla
PBS is doing a documentay on Fran (We spent a day this summer shooting footage on his Ausable frontage, behind his house, for this important story of Fran's life. Fran was very ill that day and it didn't seem he had many days left).
It will go national, and is supposed to be wrapped up by Feb, 2010). I'll alert everyone when it's due to be on PBS
-Mike Valla
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DoubleHaul
DoubleHaul
I met Fran many times while fishing the Ausable. Always a friendly greeting when I visited his shop and good advice. The Ausable Wulff, Bomber, Usual & Haystack are staples in my boxes. He always needed to be reminded of who I was but then said, "oh yes, your the guide from Chestertown." I think he knew but liked to mess with me just the same.
Sad to see him go.
Sad to see him go.
waterworker
Have fish...will travel
I met him only once.He was the guest speaker at the Ausable Two-Fly in 08.He pretty much told his life story from a young age to present.A truely incredible man.I will always remember him saying..."pocket water,pocketwater and pocketwater"!
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golden beetle
Active member
I visited the adirondacks this year for the first time. It was late June.
I can't say that I met Fran Betters. Instead, I would say that I saw him in his fly shop. The shop had probably seen better days, as it looked to be up for sale. Just down the road is the previous site of his fly shop. I didn't understand the circumstances of his life when I was there - I only read his open letter asking for help about 2 weeks ago from today.
I did not know the man at all, and, like I said, I barely saw him for more than, at most, ten minutes. He was just sitting in a chair in the middle of the shop.
"The Hungry Trout" is located just down the street from Fran's shop. It is vibrant and youthful.
In a sense, I am commenting on the passing of time, and not on a man I did not know.
The community was universally aware of Fran's condition - by community, I suppose I am referring to those that I met, and those that I met were all fly fishers or made their money off of fly fishers.
He certainly tied some classic patterns, and that is a legacy more than I will achieve in the sport, for sure.
I can't say that I met Fran Betters. Instead, I would say that I saw him in his fly shop. The shop had probably seen better days, as it looked to be up for sale. Just down the road is the previous site of his fly shop. I didn't understand the circumstances of his life when I was there - I only read his open letter asking for help about 2 weeks ago from today.
I did not know the man at all, and, like I said, I barely saw him for more than, at most, ten minutes. He was just sitting in a chair in the middle of the shop.
"The Hungry Trout" is located just down the street from Fran's shop. It is vibrant and youthful.
In a sense, I am commenting on the passing of time, and not on a man I did not know.
The community was universally aware of Fran's condition - by community, I suppose I am referring to those that I met, and those that I met were all fly fishers or made their money off of fly fishers.
He certainly tied some classic patterns, and that is a legacy more than I will achieve in the sport, for sure.
bkill
Quest for the Two Headed Trout
Very Sad....Like thousands of other anglers , I have many memories of visits and conversations with Fran over the years...A visit to the Ausable wont feel the same but I cant think of a better legacy than a river itself...
This week I will tie on an Ausable wulff in memory of Fran...
Rest In Peace...
This week I will tie on an Ausable wulff in memory of Fran...
Rest In Peace...
terry13111
Obsessed with Brook trout!
I never met Fran, but almost all of my favorite flies are of his design.
His patterns are the reason I took up fly tying. I will remember him for that.
His patterns are the reason I took up fly tying. I will remember him for that.
Soft-hackle
Wet fly fisherman.
I met and spoke with Fran only once, when I made a trip there to fish the Ausable in 1981.
I had written to Fran asking him to clear up some confusion as to the color of the famous fly, mentioned above. I had read an article about the pattern in Fly Fisherman Magazine and he described it as "dirty orange" in body color. He wrote back, again describing it the same way. So, once in Wilmington, I visited the rather small , but well-packed shop and purchased 2 of the famous flies tied by Fran himself. I still have them and the letter.
That one meeting was enough for me to know Fran knew his stuff and was, indeed, a master of the art.
Mark
I had written to Fran asking him to clear up some confusion as to the color of the famous fly, mentioned above. I had read an article about the pattern in Fly Fisherman Magazine and he described it as "dirty orange" in body color. He wrote back, again describing it the same way. So, once in Wilmington, I visited the rather small , but well-packed shop and purchased 2 of the famous flies tied by Fran himself. I still have them and the letter.
That one meeting was enough for me to know Fran knew his stuff and was, indeed, a master of the art.
Mark
It was only in recent years that I "discovered" the fishing on the West Br. Ausable River and other area ADK streams but I've been hooked ever since. At the same time I learned of this great fly tier and angler, who did much to bring the Ausable and the legendary patterns developed on it to the forefront of most fly anglers knowledge, but seemed to take very little personal credit or glory from it. As fly fishing has become a lot about marketing and self-promotion, in an effort to get as much of those precious dollars as one can, Fran seemed to shun that even though he was THE living legend up there. Each trip up there was never complete for me without a stop into Fran's shop. It won't quite be the same now with him gone, but I'll be thinking of him every time a fat brown trout eagerly takes my Ausable Wulff. He's surely tying up plenty of his patterns now for the good Lord.
46er
Fishizzle, I use worms but I'm looking to upgrade!
CELEBRATION OF LIFE
Fran's celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 3 at Monument Falls in the Catch and Release section of the Ausable. It will begin at One in the afternoon. Anyone who wishes to pay their respects to the Ambassador of the Ausable is welcome to attend. These were his wishes. He wanted no wake or funeral, rather a party! Those of you who knew Fran would understand this.
I have carried out his wishes...all of them. This is the next to the last one. He wanted desperately to meet his successor but it was not in the cards so he charged Pat and me with the last wish....to continue the legacy of the Adirondack Sport Shop and that is our intent. We hope you will help us with our task. Jan
Fran's celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 3 at Monument Falls in the Catch and Release section of the Ausable. It will begin at One in the afternoon. Anyone who wishes to pay their respects to the Ambassador of the Ausable is welcome to attend. These were his wishes. He wanted no wake or funeral, rather a party! Those of you who knew Fran would understand this.
I have carried out his wishes...all of them. This is the next to the last one. He wanted desperately to meet his successor but it was not in the cards so he charged Pat and me with the last wish....to continue the legacy of the Adirondack Sport Shop and that is our intent. We hope you will help us with our task. Jan
golden beetle
Active member
It sounds like Fran was an interesting and complex person.
In the NYT's obituary to Fran, it stated that his mother died during childbirth. Just thought I'd mention that.
The Adirondacks are great for fly fishing. And, while the Catskills certainly has an advantage in fly tying tradition, I have found that adding Mr. Betters' patterns to my fly box has increased myt fishing enjoyment - alongside my quill gordons and hendricksons, of Catskill origins, his flies make the perfect complement anywhere.
So, to Gordon, Cross, Dette, Darbee and Steenrod, I add Fran Betters to my list of great tyers.
In the NYT's obituary to Fran, it stated that his mother died during childbirth. Just thought I'd mention that.
The Adirondacks are great for fly fishing. And, while the Catskills certainly has an advantage in fly tying tradition, I have found that adding Mr. Betters' patterns to my fly box has increased myt fishing enjoyment - alongside my quill gordons and hendricksons, of Catskill origins, his flies make the perfect complement anywhere.
So, to Gordon, Cross, Dette, Darbee and Steenrod, I add Fran Betters to my list of great tyers.
mayfly18
New member
Fran was an amazing guy, I'm sure you all the know the story of the Usual Fly, well Bill Phillips who was a real good friend of Frans told me the story and then he swore me to never tell anyone about the Fly, Bill taught me how to tie the Usual. Later some guy wrote about it in Flyfisherman Magazine then every one knew about the fly. When my son was working in NY City he took the bus up to the Willowemoc and I met him there, I gave him a couple of the Usuals and he caught more fish than he ever had in his life. The Usual is my go to fly and every time I land one with it I think of Fran, now I will look to the Heavens and thank him each time.
Outstanding post, this is the type of history that we all need to hear.
Some may not have heard of the story on the Usual.
I used it in the Smoky Mountains again this year and just about any other stream I am on.
Perhaps one of the finest flies invented.
Great story.. thank you.
mayfly18
New member
Re: Fran Betters passed away "The Usual story"
Well to the best of my recall, Bill told me the following.
One day after fishin' for a time on the River Bill went into the shop to talk to Fran, looking around Bill saw this fly that looked odd, it had an orange thread head. Bill picked one up and asked Fran "what are these?'
Fran said he was just kind of fooling around with some Rabbits feet and tied them but he had orange thread in the bobbin and didn't want to change bobbins so he tied it with the orange. The wing was snowshoe rabbit and the tail was too, the body just some rabbit fur. Fran said take a few and try them out. Bill came back into the shop and told Fran they were tremendous, he had caught trout after trout with them. They decided that the fly was too good to sell them but how not to let other guys find out about them was the problem. Not sure who it was but it was decided if asked "what are you usein' " the answer would be "the usual" which is a very common answer to that question.
So that is how I was told the Usual came about. Bill told me this story on the banks of the Beaverkill River in the Catskills many, many years ago. I had been to the NY State Council of TU meeting in Roscoe and on the way home Bill told me to stop at his Campsite on the river. He gave me a coffee filled with Honey and also gave me a Snowshoe Rabbits foot which I still have.
Well to the best of my recall, Bill told me the following.
One day after fishin' for a time on the River Bill went into the shop to talk to Fran, looking around Bill saw this fly that looked odd, it had an orange thread head. Bill picked one up and asked Fran "what are these?'
Fran said he was just kind of fooling around with some Rabbits feet and tied them but he had orange thread in the bobbin and didn't want to change bobbins so he tied it with the orange. The wing was snowshoe rabbit and the tail was too, the body just some rabbit fur. Fran said take a few and try them out. Bill came back into the shop and told Fran they were tremendous, he had caught trout after trout with them. They decided that the fly was too good to sell them but how not to let other guys find out about them was the problem. Not sure who it was but it was decided if asked "what are you usein' " the answer would be "the usual" which is a very common answer to that question.
So that is how I was told the Usual came about. Bill told me this story on the banks of the Beaverkill River in the Catskills many, many years ago. I had been to the NY State Council of TU meeting in Roscoe and on the way home Bill told me to stop at his Campsite on the river. He gave me a coffee filled with Honey and also gave me a Snowshoe Rabbits foot which I still have.
DoubleHaul
DoubleHaul
A River-side Memorial for Fran is this Saturday (Oct 3) 1 pm at the Monument Falls
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