Rangeley swap
It was inevitable that the folks on Raske's "Streamers" mailing list would eventually partake in a swap of Rangeley style streamers.
From The Swapmeister...
It was inevitable that the folks on Raske's "Streamers" mailing list would eventually partake in a swap of Rangeley style streamers. Since my experience with this genre of flies is so limited, I was chomping at the bit for
someone to host a swap. From the classic flies of Carrie Stevens to the modern works of Mike Martinek and others, I just can't seem to get enough of them. I believe what captures me the most is that they are as fishable as they are beautiful.
Although the swap rules were pretty basic - a swap of traditional Rangeley style streamers - the results were anything but ordinary. We have flies that span the range from smaller casting sizes to trollers, from established classical patterns to modern innovations. It just goes to show how inventive people can be even when presented with a pretty specific set of restrictions.
I got out of the swap exactly what I was hoping for - a deeper apprecation of these magnificent flies. From selecting materials to constructing the flies to choosing patterns, the entire swap was a learning experience.
Too all the swappers, thank you very much for your contributions. I hope we can do it again sometime.
Bob Petti
November '99
Pete Williams
Submitted By Chris Del Plato
The Raven (Originated By Mike Martinek)
- Hook: Mike Martinek 8xl (original - Willis 6xl)
- Thread: Black
- Body: Flat Copper Mylar
- Rib: Doubled Copper Wire (original - oval silver tinsel)
- Belly: Yellow Bucktail, Red-Orange Bucktail, White Bucktail (top to bottom)
- Underwing: 6 Peacock Herls with a long Golden Pheasant Crest over top
- Wing: Four Claret Saddle Hackles
- Throat: Red-Orange Schlappen
- Shoulder: Mallard
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Comments on Pete Williams:
After receiving a copy of Mike Martinek's "Streamer Fly Patterns for Trolling and Casting - Vol. II", this fly immediately caught my eye. The combination of the claret wings, copper body and mallard shoulders just jumped off the page, screaming "tie me!" In the initial copies of the book, the rib material was omitted from the pattern recipe. Mike initially remembered it as being doubled copper wire (which is how it appears on my fly), though later he corrected himself stating it was silver oval tinsel. The fly is named after a late fishing, tying and climbing friend of Mike. I first fished this streamer on the Connetquot River, where it performed as good as it looks. Claret is a color that appears in many of the older patterns, but seems to be seldom used today. Perhaps our fly fishing forefathers knew something we don't. I think this streamer, as well as a few more claret patterns, will find a place in my fly box.
The Raven
Submitted By Chris Del Plato
The Raven (Originated By Chris Del Plato)
- Hook: Martinek Rangeley 8xl
- Thread: Black Uni 8/0
- Body: Purple Uni-Stretch
- Rib/Tag: Silver Mylar Tinsel, size 14
- Belly: Purple Bucktail with a small percentage of Red mixed in.
- Underwing: Five Peacock Herls tied on top of hook shank, over which is a single Golden Pheasant Crest.
- Throat: A short Silver Pheasant Crest feather extending half the belly length, in front of which is several tufts of Red Schlappen.
- Wing: Four Black Saddle Hackles (or Natural Black Neck Hackles)
- Shoulder: A sparse red/orange side body feather from a Golden Pheasant, over which is an iridescent black, spade/heart shaped Golden Pheasant wing feather.
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Comments on The Raven:
I've always liked the writings of Edgar Allen Poe, and with another Halloween season upon us, I thought a streamer representing one of his works would be a good seasonal addition to the 'Rangeley Swap'. After thumbing through my unabridged E.A.P. book and re-reading the classic words "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary...", I settled on "The Raven".
I did almost name the fly 'Nevermore', though using a preponderance of feathers in its construction dictated my calling it "The Raven". Obviously, the fly would need to have a dark and ominous look befitting its namesake. The components of the fly were taken from different parts of the poem. "And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain" is where the purple floss body came from. "Then this ebony bird beguiling ." and "Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!" gave the fly it's dark black wing hackle, shoulder and rear-throat. I added a touch of color (purple & red bucktail) for the belly, front-throat and the red/orange golden pheasant body feather behind the shoulder for a gill effect. The other components (silver rib/tag, peacock herl & golden pheasant crest underwing, jungle cock eye) were a nod toward the traditional Rangeley dressings.
"The Raven" was tied in the usual Carrie Stevens fashion and using some of Mike Martinek's techniques, which I feel give the wing/shoulder assemblies more structure and support. Please bear in mind that as of this writing the pattern is yet unproven as a 'fishing fly'. I'll put it through its paces on the stream this spring. I hope you enjoy looking at it, and even tying it - if you dare! " Quoth the Raven, 'Nevermore' ! "
Green Ghost
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Green Ghost
- Tag and Rib: Large Flat Silver Antique Tinsel
- Body: Rusty Orange Super Floss
- Throat: Peacock Herl and Mountain Goat
- Underwing: Golden Pheasant Crest
- Wing: 2 Natural Black American Rooster Hackles, flanked by 2 Whiting Dyed Chartreuse American Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: 2 Pair Silver Pheasant Feathers
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
White Ghost
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
White Ghost
- Tail: White Hackle barbules
- Body: Red Japanese Silk
- Rib: Large Flat Silver Antique Tinsel
- Throat: White Saltwater Bucktail
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Wing: 4 Whiting Natural White American Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: 2 Pair Silver Pheasant Feathers
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Big Bad Brendan
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Big Bad Brendan
- Tail: Silver Monkey (Red Back Hair)
- Tag: Small Oval Copper Tinsel
- Body: Glasso Orange Japanese Silk
- Rib: Medium Flat Copper Antique Tinsel
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Throat: White Saltwater Bucktail
- Wing: Whiting Green Dyed Grizzly American Rooster Hackles flanked by 2 Whiting Straight Orange American Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: Mandarin Wood Duck
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Ruby Raider
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Ruby Raider
- Tail: "arctic rat"
- Tag: small oval silver tinsel
- Body: medium antique red flat french tinsel
- Rib: small oval silver tinsel
- Underwing: peacock herls
- Throat: white saltwater bucktails
- Wing: 2 hoffman pink grizzly rooster hackles & 2 straight red hoffman rooster hackles
- Shoulder: egyptian goose
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Black Ghost
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Black Ghost
- Tail: Yellow Schlappen
- Body: Black Japanese Silk
- Rib: Small Silver Antique Tinsel
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Throat: Yellow Schlappen
- Wing: 2 Pair Whiting White Rooster Hackles
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Madison
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Madison
- Tail: Peacock Swords
- Tag and Rib: Small Embossed Teal Antique Tinsel
- Body: Yellow Japanese Silk
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Throat: White Saltwater Bucktail
- Wing: 2 Yellow Rooster Hackles flanked by 2 Whiting Kingfisher Blue Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: 2 Pairs Silver Pheasant Feathers
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock * Original Pattern called for peacock breast feathers
Robert Henry
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Robert Henry
- Tail: Silver Monkey
- Tag and Rib: Small Oval Gold Tinsel
- Body: Large Flat Silver Antique Tinsel
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Throat: Goat
- Wing: 2 Whiting Dyed Magenta American Rooster Hackles flanked by 2 Whiting Dyed Red Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: Mandarin Wood Duck
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
One For Martha
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
"One For Martha"
- Tail: Silver Monkey
- Tag and Rib: small oval silver tinsel
- Body: Large Flat Antique Silver Tinsel
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Throat: white saltwater bucktail
- Wing: 2 Whiting Natural Black Rooster Hackles flanked by 2 Whiting Variant Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: Silver Pheasant(2 pair)
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
"She" Smelt
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
"She" Smelt
- Tail: silver monkey
- Tag and Rib: small oval silver tinsel
- Body: antique silver flat medium french tinsel
- Underwing: peacock herl
- Throat: white saltwater bucktail
- Wing: 2 pintail feathers and 2 jungle cock neck feathers
- Shoulder: bronze mallard
- Cheeks: jungle cock
Queen Of The Miramichi
Submitted By Emmett Johnson
Queen Of The Miramichi
- Tail: Silver Monkey
- Tag and Rib: Small Oval Gold Tinsel
- Body: Large Flat Silver Antique Tinsel
- Underwing: Peacock Herl
- Throat: Goat
- Wing: 4 Whiting Dyed Magenta American Rooster Hackles
- Shoulder: Mandarin Wood Duck
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Grizzly Prince
Submitted by Lindsey Grandison
Grizzly Prince
- Head: Black
- Hook Sizes: All sizes, 4X long
- Tail: Orange hackle fibers
- Body: Flat silver tinsel
- Throat: A small bunch of white bucktail extending slightly beyond the bend of the hook. Under this a very small bunch of orange hackle fibers.
- Wing: Four white saddle hackles. These are flanked on each side by a pair grizzly hackles with all the hackle fibers on the bottom half of the hackle stripped from the stem. These should be tied in as to cover the top half of the white saddle hackles, allowing the bottom half of the white saddle hackles to show.
- Shoulders: Wood duck flank, 1/3 wing length.
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock.
Lindsey's Comments:
This fly pattern was originated by Austin S. Hogan, the founding director of the American Museum of flyfishing in Manchester, New Hampshire. He was noted for his use of color and the blending together of colors. As exemplified in this fly he also employed hackles which had the bottom half removed. Such an approach emphasizes the whiteness of the belly.
Moonglow
Submitted By Stan Jakubaszek
Moonglow
- Tag: Burnt Orange Floss
- Tail: Hot Orange Gold Pheasant Crest
- Body: Gold Holographic Tinsel
- Belly: Rainbow Krystal Flash
- Throat: Fluorescent Yellow Schlappen
- UnderWing: Pearl "Pearly"
- Wing: 2 Purple hackles w/ 2 Furnace hackles Over
- Shoulder/Cheek: Tragopan Body Feather
- Topping: Hot Orange Golden Pheasant Crest
Goldie Hawn
Submitted By Ron McKusick
Goldie Hawn
- Hook: Heritage size 4 10 x long
- Body: Black floss, I used 2 strands of the Danvilles wrapped down and back
- Rib: Medium flat silver mylar tinsel
- Belly: Red Bucktail close to hook then black bucktail both reaching just to the bend of the hook.
- Throat: Guinea dyed orange
- Underwing: Orange Bucktail and then a small bunch of orange webby schlappen fibers
- Wing: 4 Yellow saddle hackles
- Cheeks: a Hooded Merganser flank feather
- Eye: Jungle Cock
Footer Special
Submitted By Bob Petti
Footer Special
- Thread: Black
- Hook: Martinek, #2
- Body: Flat Gold Mylar Tinsel
- Belly: Blue Bucktail and Peacock Herl
- Inside Wing: Red topped with Yellow Bucktail
- Wing: Yellow Saddle Hackles
- Shoulders: Guinea
Hornberg Streamer
Submitted By Bob Petti
Hornberg Streamer
- Thread: Black
- Hook: Mustad 94720
- Body: Flat Silver Mylar Tinsel
- Inside Wing: Yellow Kid Goat
- Wing: Grizzly Saddle
- Shoulder: Pintail (original was mallard)
- Cheeks: Barred Woodduck
- Collar: Grizzly Hen
Featherwing Magog
Submitted By R.A. Skehan
Featherwing Magog Smelt
- Thread: Black
- Hook: Mustad 94720, Size 2-4
- Body: Flat silver mylar
- Rib: Medium oval silver tinsel
- Throat: Yellow bucktail then white bucktail slightly beyond hook bend, then red hackle barbules tied short.
- Wing: 4 light purple saddle hackles.
- Topping: 4-5 strands of peacock herl
- Shoulder: Dark barred teal flank feathers, 1/4 wing length.
- Cheeks: Jungle cock
Purple Hawk
Submitted By R.A. Skehan
Purple Hawk
- Thread: Black
- Hook: Mustad 94720, Size 2-4
- Tag: Flat copper tinsel
- Body: Dark purple floss
- Rib: Flat copper tinsel
- Throat: Pink bucktail then white bucktail extending slightly beyond hook bend, then pink hackle barbules, tied short.
- Wing: 4-5 strands of peacock herl, over which are 4 light purple saddle hackles
- Shoulder: Jungle cock body feathers, 1/4 wing length.
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Comments:
I decided to play chemist for this swap and was monkeying around with purple dyes to try and obtain my favorite shade of lavender, when I came upon this beautiful light purple hue. I thought to myself "this would be great for a Magog Smelt", and decided to create a featherwing conversion of this solid and productive bucktail pattern for the swap. The second pattern, the Purple Hawk, is one of my own imagination. Purple and pink complement each other quite nicely, and both hues can be found in the Rainbow Smelts found up here in Maine, so though an untested pattern, I'm positive this will be a producer this spring. I'm also very partial to the "look" a pattern has when a jungle cock body feather is used as a shoulder....It's sleek and speedy looking....like a hawk (get it?)....and does that shoulder scream out baitfish, or what?
Pink Greyhound
Submitted by Doug Saball
Brazos Ghost #1
Submitted By Glenn Seibert
Brazos Ghost #1
- Thread: Black, 6/0
- Tag: Medium silver tinsel
- Body: Light orange floss
- Rib: Medium silver tinsel
- Throat: White Fishair and mallard flank feather barbs
- Wing: 4 strands peacock herl, then 2 gray hackles flanked by 2 blue-dyed badger hackles.
- Shoulder: Silver Pheasant
Brazos Ghost #2
Submitted By Glenn Seibert
Brazos Ghost #2
- Thread: Black, 6/0
- Tag: Medium silver tinsel
- Body: Red floss
- Rib: Medium silver tinsel
- Throat: White fishair and white hackle barbs + 4 strands of peacock herl
- Wing: 3 strands Pearl Krystal Flash, cut into 9 pieces, then 2 gray hackles flanked by 2 natural badger hackles
- Shoulder: Silver Pheasant
Flatlander
Submitted By David Talley
Flatlander
- Tag: Flat silver tinsel
- Body: Blue floss
- Rib: Flat silver tinsel
- Throat: 4-6 strands peacock herl, under which is SPARSE lavender bucktail
- Wing: 4-6 hackles (dark gray on dark version, white or light blue dun on light version).
- Shoulder: Jungle cock breast
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
R.B. Supervisor
Submitted By Clyde Watson
R.B. Supervisor
- Thread: Black
- Hook: Partridge Carrie Stevens, Size 4
- Tail: Red Hackle Barbules
- Body: Flat silver tinsel
- Throat: Red hackle Barbules
- Wing: Sparse white bucktail, over which are two royal blue saddle hackles flanked by two white saddle hackles that are 2/3 as long as the blue hackles.
- Shoulder: Mallard or Wood Duck flank feathers
- Cheeks: Jungle Cock
Clyde's Comments On This Pattern
I call the pattern the "RB Supervisor." It stands for Rangeley-style Blue Supervisor. In trying to come up with a pattern for the swap I kept coming up with road-blocks - already taken, already on your www site, or material issues. So I decided to take one of my favorite streamer patterns for fishing the Moosehead area and convert it to a Rangeley-style streamer. I am very pleased with the results, and if the pattern proves itself this spring, I may be replacing the Blue Supervisor that I normally tie. Here's the pattern I normally tie for comparison.
Blue Supervisor
Submitted By Clyde Watson
Blue Supervisor
- Thread: black or olive (the trout at a particular pond in Maine prefer olive over black for thread choice)
- Hook: casting streamer
- Tail: Short tuff of red yarn
- Body: Flat silver tinsel
- Underwing: White Bucktail
- Wing: 1pr of white saddles over 2pr of light blue saddles
- Topping: 3 or 4 strands of peacock herl
Big Diamond Streamer
Submitted By Roger Whitcomb
Big Diamond Streamer
- Hook: Mustad # 94720, # 9575, or #79580
- Tail: Red Swan
- Body: silver tinsel double wrapped
- Rib: oval silver tinsel
- Wing: Two golden yellow hackles flanked by two golden badger hackles
- Topping: Golden pheasant crest dyed red
- Throat: Greenish-blue bucktail covered by guinea hen body feathers
- Shoulder: Ruffed Grouse
- Cheeks: Jungle cock
- Head: Black
Roger's Comments On This Pattern
Named for Big Diamond Pond in Stewartstown, NH. I have found this streamer to be a productive casting & trolling streamer here in northern Vermont, an area not far from the Diamond ponds. The pattern, with the exception of the shoulders & topping, is the same as I used in the early 50's on the Diamonds. The Big Diamonds I used at that time had shoulders made from the black & white barred Mandarin body feather. The horns are replaced by topping which is the result when the original pattern is fished. I encourage you to try this streamer in sizes 6-10 for casting, and in larger sizes and tandems for trolling.
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