MAINE - Life in the Slow Lane
Theron,
Those look really nice! What size hook are they on? My only nit pick, and it's very minor, is I probably would have used a bead head just a little smaller. Red copper johns are one of my go to flies, always have them in red and copper, this year I had one lone dark blue one in a size 12 and the rainbows on the Sugar were hitting in something fierce! Have you tried any prince nymphs yet? Those or a zug bug are go to flies for me as well. Zug Bugs were my first fly, and very easy to tie.
-Nic
I have attempted zug bugs and princes, but they were no where near as good as these two. The beads unfortunately are the only ones I have at the moment, and I believe those hooks are 8 or 10. Probably too big as I suspected, but not impossible that they would work I suppose.
A tying night should be worked out sometime soon. So we can share a little knowledge and learn a little too.
I still haven't actually met you yet. Hoping that will happen before too long.
Take care,
Theron
Zig I always carry the Wood Duck Heron great trout fly. Try tying it with the orange hen and red hen collar also great flies.
T-Bone
You'll be hittin Pro here pretty soon! You're gaining on it faster than I did when I started.
These are actually pretty small for trolling flies but the trout are winding down and the smaller ones get nailed quicker.
My favorite trolling rig, A 6 wt Orvis Limestone taper cane rod with a Martin Mohawk multiplier under it. Oh, and my favorite Meerchaum pipe 
Thank you Koda. I went down to bedford today and got finer wire, and more appropriately sized hooks, to attempt a better scale version. Here is to hoping I can maintain that look on another scale.
Thanks for showing me the flies. I had no idea people trolled flies until just recently. A fellow I work with trolls flies in Winnipesauki for lakers.
I had never heard of meechaum and when you mentioned it the first time I was left guessing it was some sort of plant, but it must be some kind of tree; huh?
Theron
Theron
I do miss Charlies shop. When I needed something to whip up some flies I just bopped over to Bristol, a 10 minute ride from here and picked it up.
I'm thinking about writing an article for Lee's pages all about trolling flies. Not quite sure how to go about it but I believe you already did one so you may be able to bail me out on this one 
It's a deadly method of catching some unusually big trout & salmon but I've used it on other fish with equal success. If not mistaken, I believe it originated up in Maine. Lot of nostalgia involved too.
I smoked a pipe off and on for a lot of years but never could get serious about it as it ripped the tounge about right out of my mouth. Always was the wood pipes. Then I chanced on a Merchaum and it all came together.
Merchaum is not wood or from a plant. There is one city in Turkey where it is mined. It's a word from the German language which translates to sea foam. The stuff is porus and smokes very mellow and smooth. When I found one carved as a bear it put it right over the top for me
BTW~ There are some HUGE lakers in Winni and Newfound!
Quote by: KodaI'm thinking about writing an article for Lee's pages all about trolling flies. Not quite sure how to go about it but I believe you already did one so you may be able to bail me out on this one
Koda
All you need do is ask and I will help with the story, sounds like something that would be very interesting. And yes Maine does have a lot of nostalgia in trolling flies, Carrie Stevens for one designed many of todays classics.
See Yah
Lee
Lee
Give me a bit to put it together and then we can do the metrics of putting it up. It's something I started doing a long long time ago and I learned from a gent who was a true master at it.
I've caught an honest 50 or so big trout in a couple of hours trolling flies on some NH ponds and lakes. Keep a couple for dinner and the rest are catch and release. Sometimes, just for fun, I try to take the fly away from them so I don't have to unhook em. But they are fast!
A man hasn't lived until he's got a 20 pound laker on a fly rod, and a good salmon will bring a smile to anyones face.
Lookin forward to doing the article/story.
Oh yes indeed . I remember trolling flies with my dad and Uncle Dick for years . I think trolling flies is a tradition up in the North Woods of Maine where I grew up. We trolled for Landlocked Salmon , Togue and occasional Brook trout. Grey Ghost . Pink Lady , Supervisor. The Ed Muskie , Woodsman Special. Mickeyfinn. Joes Smelt. Black Ghost were among the streamers in our fly box. Them were the days.
I attempted some red copper johns tonight. The size is probably one or two too large, but here they are.
What do you all think? Honestly I was fairly impressed with these little babies!
Thanks,
Theron
T_Bone