The Rusty Rat

Nova Scotia’s rivers are awaiting rain to bring in the autumn salmon, but we still have five weeks in the fall season. Hopefully we’ll get some great salmon fishing with Nova Scotia’s fantastic fall scenery and an added treat – no biting insects!

The Rat series of Atlantic salmon wet flies was originated and introduced in 1911 by Restigouche fly tyer Roy Angus Thompson whose initials, R.A.T, represent this oddly named series. It is believed that the series began with either the Rat or Grey Rat. As the years passed other tyers added to the series and we now also have Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Silver, and Rusty Rats. Dick Stewart and Farrow Allen, in their 1991 Northland Press book, Flies for Atlantic Salmon, chronicle the series, and in particular, they tell the story of the Rusty Rat.

“The Rusty Rat is far and away the most popular of the Rat flies and may, in fact, be the most frequently fished Atlantic salmon of all time... According to the late J.C. (Clovie) Arsenault, who for nearly fifty years supplied flies and tackle to the well-heeled salmon anglers of Quebec and New Brunswick, it was he who tied the first Rusty Rat in 1949. Reportedly Arsenault was requested by a client to exactly duplicate a fly that had been successful. The fly in question, possibly a simple Rat, was made with an underbody which had become stained by the rusty hook and had also started to unravel. Arsenault, faithful to his client’s wishes, replicated both the rusty-orange color and loose strand of floss, producing what has become one of the most recognized Atlantic salmon flies.”

Other similar accounts name Arsenault’s client as Joe Pulitzer, and that Pulitzer’s Rat had become damaged by catching several Restigouche River fish at Brandy Brook, including a forty-one pounder.  How’s that for a Pulitzer Prize?

The Rusty Rat

Thread:                      UTC G.S.P. 50 Denier red thread

Hook:                          Partridge Bartleet Supreme or Daiichi 2161, size 4 – 2/0

Tag:                            Oval gold tinsel

Tail:                             Peacock sword

Rib:                             Oval gold tinsel

Body:                          Rear half: Orange-yellow floss, veiled on top with orange-yellow floss extending to the middle of the tail

Front half: Peacock herl

Wing:                          Grey fox guard hair (grey fox hair is black with a white or cream band in the centre. Guard hair from the back or side of a coyote is a great substitute, readily available in our neck of the woods).                 

Hackle:                       Grizzly hen hackle tied collar style

Sides:                         Jungle cock (optional)

Head:                         Red thread finished with 2 coats Angler’s Corner Clear Wet Head Cement

Enjoy your fishing and please stay on the line …