Chapter 25

Fly Fishing- Flies and Lures

Lake Trout and Landlocked Salmon. Streamer flies prove efficient in either shallow or deep water. The flies that I have found most effective in the following order are: Supervisor, Red and White Bucktail, Gray Ghost, Green King, Edson Tiger Light, Edson Tiger Dark, Mickey Finn, Parmacheene, Bolshevik, White Bucktail, Brown Bucktail. For trolling I recommend live bait fly as shown in Chapter 17.

Bass: The following flies are okay for bass fishing: Col. Fuller, Parmacheene Belle, Scarlet Ibis, Montreal, Brown Hackle, Gray Hackle. Try a small spinner with these flies. Take along a fly rod mouse and give it a trial when the other lures fail.

Pickerel. A small spoon and a bright fly is excellent for pickerel. A white and red, or a yellow and red fly with weedless attachment is preferable. Often a small spinner with a piece of pork rind will prove effective.

Though many of these flies are no longer available, L.L.Bean still sells the Gray Ghost and Black Gnat flies listed here.

Atlantic Salmon. For Atlantic Salmon the four flies that I have found most effective in the following order are the Silver Gray, Jock Scott, Silver Doctor and Black Dose, double hooks. For Spring or high water fishing the larger size hooks are best, and I recommend size 1, 2 and 4, double hooks. For low or very clear water, double hooks size 6, 8 and 10.

I recommend double hooks as both Mrs. Bean and I have been very successful taking Atlantic Salmon on the Tobique and Restigouche Rivers. We use double hooks exclusively. See Chapters 17 and 40.

Brook Trout. For early spring fishing large trout flies are generally the most effective such as the Parmacheene Belle, Silver Doctor, Royal Coachman and White Miller. Also at this time trout will take Nymphs fished near the bottom. As soon as the water drops and becomes warmer the darker and smaller patterns are recommended such as Brown and Grey Hackle, Montreal, Cowdung and Black Gnat.

As soon as natural insects begin to appear in numbers that is the time to change to the Bivisibles and dry flies will take fish through the warm summer months.

BILL GORMAN > Fashions have certainly changed since L.L.’s time. While you’ll still find Mickey Finns and Gray Ghosts in many fly boxes, you’re more likely to see emergers like the Deep Sparkle Pupa that imitate insects reaching their adult stage, weighted nymphs made from synthetic materials, such as the popular Copper John series, and streamers tied with deer or rabbit hair like the Muddler Minnow and its many variants.