"Madame"

As of last Friday we have returned to winter. Snow and cold have taken hold for now but a moderating trend is coming. So with the time available I turned to the tying desk and pumped out a few streamers. This is one that I find to be pleasing, both to tie as well as view.

This featherwing streamer is tied in the "Rangeley" style, as are the others I tied over the week-end. I hope you enjoy...."Madame"

"Madame"

"Labonte"....A Streamer

I have a yellow saddle that is now pretty short on prime feathers. Looking at it the other day I said to myself maybe there's one more set of feathers on there to allow for one more nice streamer. In searching for a matched pair I actually found several, which is good for the fly fishing shows are a few months away, in which time I'll probably find another yellow saddle to my liking.

Below is a streamer tied using the yellow feathers as well as a few others.

"Labonte" is a streamer fly tied in the "Rangeley" style. It is named for a lovely place I frequent.

Headed Out And Staying Home

I had a request from a gentleman from the Pacific northwest for two patterns. They were to be tied in the Rangeley style. These patterns were of his choice. I hope he will find them to his liking.

These streamers will remain east. These will be fished here in Connecticut, but they will also make appearances in a few other states. Because of there size they will be candidates for small streams.

I just love this wing feather/color. It was from a cape I bought a few years ago. When purchased it was supposed to be gray, for gray ghosts...obviously it's not gray but what a nice color for a general minnow imitation.

"Mohawk Rain"

When we were youngsters my mom and dad would take us for our annual visit to the Mohawk Trail to see autumns painting of the mountains. The drive would take us from Greenfield to North Adams MA. It was beautiful and there were the stops at the various restaurants and gift shops. They were memorable times.

There were years when we took our trip and the weather did not cooperate and the foliage had that dull look, pretty but not striking. I tried to create that look in the streamer below.

"Mohawk Rain"

The reds, yellows, browns, and gold of autumn...subdued.

The Green Ghost

The Green Ghost was created by Bert Quimby of South Windham Maine. In the Bates book a date is not given for this streamer but I believe it was in the 1930's. The pattern was designed to catch trout and landlocked salmon. It represents a smelt which is a staple forage for trout and salmon in most cold water lakes. I fished this streamer Sunday in the Farmington River here in Connecticut and the fly received a vicious strike.

The wing color here is slightly different from the streamer pictured in Bates book. I did not have the proper colored saddles so I toned down the green with a slightly subdued olive saddle.

"Green Ghost",.....Hook, Mustad 94720,...Body, Orange Floss,...Tag and Rib,Flat Silver Tinsel,...Belly,4-5 Peacock Herl, White Bucktail,...Wing, 2 Green, 2 Olive Saddle Hackles,...Shoulder, Silver Pheasant Body Feather,...Cheeks, Jungle Cock.

"Green Ghost"

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The "E.C. Special"

I haven't posted a streamer in some time. So yesterday I tied this featherwing streamer and thought I'd share it with you. It's an attractor pattern I created for use in the fall.

"E.C. Special"

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History Changing

A part of fly fishing history is undergoing a change. Upper Dam Maine is being rebuilt. This place is where the Gray Ghost was created and fished by Carrie Stevens, and cast from one of the concrete piers into the swirling waters of the pool where she hooked a 6lb. 13oz brook trout. Since that day in 1924 many anglers have fished these waters. I to have fished here many times and have so many wonderful memories of hooking brook trout and salmon both on streamers and dry flies. There is a need to rebuild this old dam, but will it change the way the waters swirl within this huge pool. I guess we'll have to see.

A pier I have fished many times. This is the last time I fished it. The net in the photo was dropped into the water and lost. Perhaps it lies in the bottom of the pool.

"Carries Favorite"

This is a streamer I tied by hand. I did not use a vise. The only tools used were a bobbin to hold the thread, and a pair of scissors. This is the way that Mrs. Stevens tied her streamers. The stone that the fly in photographed on was taken from one of the piers of the dam.

You can find out more of this streamer challenge here http://globalflyfisher.com/streamers/guest/challenge2/

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Bemis

Bemis is located at the far end of Mooselookmeguntic Lake. It's an area that is quite special both from a angling perspective as well as a natural one. The stream is accessed from an old road that is still mostly dirt, and at certain times the ruts can make you feel your driving in mini canyons. The woods are teaming with wildlife, and deer, and moose are seen at any time. Early mornings loons can be heard, there sound is of a wilderness they inhabit.

There are areas just to the left of the lake that have not been changed and remain like they were when man first saw them. And from what I'm told they will be protected forever.

There is a stream that flows into Mooselookmeguntic lake. This stream is Bemis Stream. It's a stream that provides spawning habitat for the brook trout that live in the lake. In the fall there are places where one can fish a streamer and have the possibility of taking a four pound plus wild brook trout.

The section of AT that crosses here is one of the most rugged. The beauty that surrounds it is worth the trek.

"Bemis Special"

A streamer I created. It captures my feeling for the woods, waters, solitude and the beauty of Bemis.

"Bemis Special"....Tied in the Rangeley style.

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"Toothaker"

A place located about 320 miles north from where I'm writing this post is where I'll be the last week of September. In this photo taken from the cabin we stay at, the area to fish is about 10 miles, that is as the crow flies. The region I speak of is Rangeley, Maine, and the cabin is on Rangeley Lake. At this time of year the lake can produce some fine fishing for landlocked salmon and brook trout. But I choose to fish the tribs of the lakes in search of the same quarry.

One of those tributaries is the Cupsuptic River. The river where it enters the lake by the same name can be good fishing, I seek out the streams in and about the area.

"Toothaker"

"Toothaker" a streamer I created and tied and so named for the streams of this area.

Hook, Mike Martinek Rangeley Streamer...Tail, Two Jungle Cock Breast Feathers...Butt, Gray Ostrich...Body, Yellow Yarn...Rib, Embossed Gold Tinsel...Throat, White and Red Hackle...Wing, Two Yellow, and Two Silver Badger Saddle Hackles...Shoulder, Ringncked Pheasant...Cheeks, Jungle Cock.

 The fishing opportunities. See you in September.

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"Silver Badger"

While paying a visit last week to a online fly shop in Wyoming, a shop I have done business before with. I noticed they had listed a Silver Badger saddle. I gave them an order right away for the saddle and it arrived the other day.
Upon opening the box I was pleased with what I saw. The Silver Badger saddle was beautiful. Almost perfect feathers, and every feather seemed to be usable, which does not happen often. This saddle will make many wonderful streamers.

This is a photo of the Silver Badger feathers. When the light hits them they have a color that's hard to describe.

Here is the first streamer tied with Silver Badger hackle. "The Silver Badger"

Hook, Martinek Rangeley Streamer
Body, Wine Yarn
Tag and Rib, Flat Silver Tinsel
Throat, Black Hackle
Wing, Silver Badger Saddle Hackle
Cheeks, Jungle Cock

The "Supervisor"

Warden Supervisor Joe Stickney of Saco, Maine is the angler credited with the design of this streamer, "The Supervisor" in 1925. It is an exceptional streamer for brook trout and landlocked salmon. It is one of the best smelt imitations, as well as a general baitfish imitation.
Joe did not tie flies, but had others tie for him. He is also a designer of several other effective streamers.

I can tell you I have fished this streamer with good success in Maine, as well as Connecticut.
It produced a 18 inch wild brook trout for me in a small lake tributary. It also has been responsible for many trout in a certain Connecticut lake.

The "Supervisor"


This "Supervisor" has earned its retirement. You can see its battle scars. This fly tempted that 18 inch brook trout.

Some Things, a Bit Odd, Well Maybe

When I was growing up this guy was very familiar.

Over the course of time spent fishing I have taken many photos. Some of them of real interesting, and some well you say to yourself why did I take that picture.
These are a few photos of some of my odd, I mean photos that I took that had no special meaning but after looking at them much later are not to bad.

An old Medalist. Lots of turns of the handle with this one....still going strong.

A head on view of some workers.

The black and white version of two of the best.

Everything sweet.

An old covered bridge. It spans the headwaters of the Connecticut River in Northern New Hampshire.

"Cotton Candy"

A streamer tied in the Rangeley style. I chose the feathers because they appeared to work so well together. When the fly was completed it looked like cotton candy.

For those interested in streamers, I have a few sites for you to check out.
http://www.streamerlist.com/
http://streamers365.com/

"Cotton Candy"