#44 - Don's Delight

Tied by: Darren MacEachern
Originated by: Carrie Stevens
Sources: Carrie G. Stevens: Maker of Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies - Hilyard Pg. 132-133
Streamer Fly tying and Fishing; Joseph Bates 1966 Pg. #264

Hook: Mustad 3907A #2
Thread: black 8/0
Tail: Red hackle fibers
Body: Silver tinsel / gold tinsel
Throat: White hackle fibers
Wing: Four white hackles
Shoulder: Golden pheasant tippet
Eye: Jungle cock nail
Head: Black (optional red band)

Notes: Don's Delight is one of three flies named for George Donald Bartlett of Willimantic, Connecticut. The other two which make up the trio are Don's Special and the G. Donald Bartlett streamer. Don, as he was known, was the publisher of the Willimantic Chronicle, founded by his grandfather John A. McDonald, and later passed down to his daughter Lucy May. Carrie and husband Wallace were introduced to Don when they arrived at Upper Dam and became good friends. Dressings in both gold and silver tinsel bodies exist. In Joseph bates listing, the body is gold, but Hilyards and Leeman / Stweart list the body wrapped in silver tinsel. The streamer is a favorite to cast into the pools of the upper dam.