"Tomah Joe"

Tomah Joe is one of those classic wet flies that are no longer found in fly shops. It seems that it does not "fit" what's happening, or perhaps it may be it's a bit tricky to tie. It's a fly that was created by Tomah Joe a fishing guide in Washington county Maine. Tomah-Joseph was a member of the Passamaquaddy tribe and was later their representative in the state legislature. The fly was created about the late 1870's and used extensively in Grand Lake Stream for landlocked salmon. Like many flies Tomah Joe has gone through many variations and I myself tie it using three different wing feathers. The variations don't seem to make the fly better it's just that I have those feathers available and I used them. All three have been successful with brook trout and rainbows. I believe Tomah Joe would make a great streamer fly for sea-run brook trout as well as other sea-run species. Below are the three Tomah Joe flies. The various feathers used are Chuckar, Lemon Wood duck, and Black and White barred wood duck.

Hook-Mustad 3906 #8...Tail, Yellow Hackle...Butt, Peacock Herl...Body, Silver Mylar Tinsel...Throat, Yellow followed by Red Hackle...Wing, Either Chuckar, Lemon Wood Duck or Barred Wood Duck.