TroutJournal.com

[Stripper]

Here is a good assignment for anyone willing to accept.

Everyone is familiar with Fran Betters and the flies he's created throughout his life. The Ausable Wulff probably being the most popular. The Haystack which is way under-rated by many(my personal favorite). And of course the Usual, which is an emerger pattern tied using the underfur from the pads of a snowshoe rabbits foot. This fly (Usual) is believed to be the fly that ever so popularized the use of this material.

Was Fran the first to use this material? Probably not!
Fran Betters' The Usual is certainly one tier, and a pattern, which have made their stamp.
I have a hard time, though, believing that one single tier and one single pattern is enough to put a material into the mainstream.

One would think there were other tiers, and other patterns, which ran parallel, or pre-date, The Usual.

Lets here it guys!

[TarponJim]

CDC was used in Europe many, many moons ago. It also makes a superior "usual" that floats better than snowshoe hare. That being said, I know of no other patterns calling for snowshoe hare.

[coonriverdog]

I use snowshoe for wings on my spent Tricos, and as a wing stub when I tie my quill bodied RS2 as an emerger. It works great!!!