In Memoriam: Mary Dette Clark

It has been nearly two weeks now since I learned of the passing of Mary Dette Clark, the last true legendary Catskill fly tyer. The Dette family tied the finest Catskill trout flies for the anglers of the Golden Age, as well as for their descendants and our own generations of anglers who they inspired. Mary was more than an incomparable fly tyer, she was the warmest, most genuinely friendly ambassador for the Catskills I have ever been privileged to meet.

On my very first trip to the Catskills in April 1993, the Dette shop on Cottage Street was the most required destination. I met all three of the greats: Walt, Winne and Mary, and found myself in awe of these kind, very down to earth people. Mary seemed to tie most of the flies in those years, and I watched closely, making the most of my opportunity to turn a page and experience fly fishing history.

I returned to the shop on my second day, after a long, fruitless day and evening searching for rising trout. There were flies about, and Mary told me they were the caddis known as shad flies locally. The flies I observed were neither hatching nor egg-laying, thus offering no feeding opportunities to the trout. Mary sent me around the corner to park and walk a short path down to the banks of the Willowemoc. “I think you will find some fish there”, she had said with a smile, and of course she was right.

After some work to figure out just what those rising brown trout would accept, I discovered that my ugly blue-winged olives, my first try at tying CDC dry flies, fit the bill. There were seven or eight trout rising in that little pool, and I hooked them all, though one shook the hook before I brought him to hand. Thank you, Mary.

I took advantage of a few free days in early June to return and visit the shop again. I sheepishly showed Mary my first attempts at tying her signature Dette Coffin Fly. My flies were far from perfect, but she kindly complimented my work, and assured me they would fool a wary Catskill brown. Once more, her pronouncement proved to be correct.

That evening, I fished the Beaver Kill at the old Twin Islands Campground where I was staying. Coffin flies appeared over the riffles at dusk, and trout began rising and slashing all around me. I took a couple of average sized browns, then targeted a heavy, slashing boil as the light faded. My Coffin Fly bobbed down and found itself in the middle of another boil. When I tightened, a great trout erupted from the frothy surface like a missile launch! My somewhat shabby flies worked indeed.

I battled that brownie to the net and measured him on the wet gravel at riverside. He was nineteen inches long! Mary Dette’s kind support had given me the confidence to take my first big Catskill trout.

I had hoped to buy some of her flies that day, but the bins were empty of all the Green Drakes and Coffins. It was near the end of the hatch. I did order half a dozen of those exquisite flies which she promised to mail to me the following spring. They remain among the most cherished possessions of my angling life.

For many years, a visit to Cottage Street to say hello, and purchase a few dry flies after watching Mary tie for a while was a highlight of my Catskill trips. Her kindness improved my fly tying and helped foster my love for the Catskills. My last visit came after her grandson, Joe Fox, had joined her there on Cottage Street. Joe was gradually taking over the role of primary fly tyer and running the family business under the proud gaze of his legendary grandmother.

With her artistry and wonderful personality, Mary touched the lives of countless anglers who came to worship at the angler’s shrine of the Catskills. She will live on in our hearts and memories.