Cliff....."Days Worth"

I would like to pass along some info on the Cliff Days Worth fly box. Its a small but ample fly box with the capability of carring a days worth of flies on the stream. One side of the box has two strips that hold your dry flies securly and the other side has a magnetic base that holds nymphs, streamers, wets very tightly. Its made of a very heavy plastic that I believe will take some punishment. I know that the small stream guy would love this box, I know I do. The price is about 15.00, and is made in Wyoming.
Very practical and worht the price.

Carrie Stevens Challenge ll

"Carrie's Favorite"
August 15th will be the 40th anniversary of Carrie Stevens Day. She is responsible for creating the most recognized streamer fly ever. The "Gray Ghost" Carrie is also known to have tied many more streamers, to many to name here. She had no formal training in how to tie a fly, nor did she see any one tie a fly. She tied her flies without the use of a vise. To comemorate this event myself and 23 other fly tyers from around the world accepted a challenge to tie a streamer fly just as she did. The only tools we were allowed to use were, scissors, bobbin for thread, and a bodkin. The pattern that was selected was "Carrie's Favorite" The recipe for this streamer will be posted on the side, along with a photo sequence of how it was tied.

"Belle"

A Maine Wild Brook Trout Stream





In the course of a fly fishers life he will fish many waters, with most of them being very kind to him with rewards of special fish , beautiful suroundings, and fine company. This is a thought or two of one of mine. This stream has its headwaters in the Western Maine Mountains. Several ponds and deep springs keep its waters flowing cool until it reaches a large natural lake. Along its run to the lake it travels through one of the most beautiful areas of New England. Birch, Fir, and Maple trees line its boulder riddled banks. In Autumn, at which time I make my visit to this natural jewel, the woods are aflame with natures work. The red maples, golden birch and the deep green of the fir can almost make you stop thinking of fishing. The residents of this stream can rival the color of the countryside. It is home to the Wild Brook Trout. Most of these brookies are on the small side every now and then, especially in the fall when the larger lake dwelling brook trout ascend this small stream to spawn. It was in one year that the largest brook trout I've ever taken came from this stream. As we walk upstream into the Maine Wilderness, fishing as we hiked your eyes will see moose, black bear, and the ever startling partridge. I have over the years fished many flies in this stream, streamers, dries, and wets and the best producers have been wet flies. One outing that will always remain vivid was the time we came upon a pool that had many spawning brookies in it. I tossed an arsenal of flies into that pool, some would follow, some would strike and slash, but not one hookup. I opened the fly box and took hold of a wet fly I carry but did not often fish, a "Parmacheene Belle". That day I called it my "Billy Baroo". When I showed the fly to my wife she said tie it on, because I love the color. I tied on that fly and on the second cast a male brook trout slammed that fly. He was a beautiful fish of 15 inches. That pool produced four more brookies on that fly.
Until this day, when in brook trout waters the "BELLE" will be called to duty.
"Parmacheene Belle"
"Belle" and Friends
A Wild Maine Brook Trout

A Maine Wilderness Stream

Another Time

Fishing has been in my life for as long as I can recall. As a young boy my fishing was done with a bait casting rod and reel, some Pfluger tins of assorted hooks and sinkers, and worms. The fish we were seeking were anything that would bite. As I began to evolve, my fishing life discovered trout. The method pretty much stayed the same only a more advanced tool arsenal was used. A Mitchell 300 spinning reel and a two piece rod, a few Daredevle's and Abu Garcia spinners, number 8 Eagle Claw snelled hooks, and garden hackle. It was about 1974 or so that I began to read about fishing for trout with a fly. It really took hold when a read a book called "Trout Fishing" by Joe Brooks. It was full of great photos and stories about fly fishing. That book was what made me give this new type of fishing a try. I purchased a fly rod, a Cortland seven foot five weight glass rod, a Pfluger Medalist reel and a few flies, which I had no knowledge of and off I went. I fished the Farmington River in Unionville, and the first trout on a fly was taken. Since that time many years ago many trout have come to hand, in many streams both local and distant. So many rods and reels, flies and fly boxes, expensive and not so expensive have come and helped me to enjoy my days on the streams. But every now and then I drift back to "Another Time"