I took the liberty to post these 4 flies in which B52 taught our United Fly Tyers class to tie last night... For those who don't know, Armand is a fantastic fly tyer, seasoned narrator, and a great story teller while he's demonstrating and tying flies. It is like sittting around a camp fire with 50+years of fishing experience and great fishing trips. Each one of these flies has a story behind it and a special memory to him. Armand wrote a great boyhood article fishing with these particular flies, I hope to put him on the spot and he will share it with this group. I was deeply touched by his story. It reminded me very much of the movie, "Stand By Me" and thoughts about my fishing childhood memories. Even tho these flies are targeted for trout and such, they should do some serious dental work to Gills and Bass. My tying still has some mistakes, but the fish won't know the difference. B52, will you share that week long fishing trip 53 years ago, Spring of My Dreams, 1955 with us, tell us about these flies...
Here you go...
SPRING OF MY DREAMS
By Armand J. Courchaine
It was April 1955. Another long winter has gone by. Finally, a time to use the flies I had tied during the long
winter. My neighbor, Gene Landurand returned home from the hospital having a double hernia operation. I went to cheer him up. He told me his doctor told him to
relax and don't go back to work. Gene ask me if I knew what the following week was all about? I answered the beginning of school spring vacation.
"Want to go fishing", he asked. "What about relaxing". "His reply, fishing is relaxing!"
Monday morning, I was in the back seat of his 1955 DeSoto Sportsman. For an eleven year old kid I thought I was in a rocket ship. High tail fins with push
button transmission. We flew (Gene had a heavy foot). Remember no seat belts at that time. I was sliding across the back seat and even landed on the floor when
we came to a sudden stop.
My rod was an Wright McGill "Sweetheart", 8 ½ ft for HDG line (size six). I was not ashamed to put my garden worm on. We caught brook trout
from Segregansett, Coles, Rocky Run, Palmer River and Lewin Brook. We fished for shad in the Palmer River. In the after
noon a hatch of Quill Gordon and Hendricksons. At the time I didn't know what I was looking at. It made no
difference the fish took my Coachman wet fly.
Another day we fished a pond in Rehoboth and Lakeville for Chain Pickerel. The cold waters of spring made these fish hungry and looking for a fight.
Another day we fished Shingle Island River then the west branch of Westport River. This was an eye opener for me. Gene
and his son Bob, convinced me that it was o.k. to wade in the river going under route six highway bridge. The order was given throw your fly in the base of the
waterfall. I could not believe continuous brook and rainbow trout action.
Then we fished the lower brackish water of the Westport River. I could tell by Gene's action he was on a mission. His weapon was a size 4 beautiful White
Marabou streamer. I though to myself what is he going to catch with that big fly. Mr. Landurand came back with two Salters (sea-run brook trout) a nineteen and
sixteen inch fish.
It's been fifty three years since that week long trip. I have fished many places and caught all kinds of fish. That experience is something I will never
forget. I invite you to come with me and tie the flies for that trip - Spring of my Dreams 1955.
COACHMAN (wet)
Hook: Daiichi # Model 1550 size 12
Thread: Black
Tag: Gold tinsel
Body: Peacock herl
Wing: Gray Duck Quill
Throat: Brown fibers
PALMER RIVER SHAD FLY
Hook: Daiichi #Model 1530 size 2
Body: Flat silver tinsel or mylar medium
Wing: Red duck quill
MICKEY FINN
Hook: Daiichi # Model 2340 size 2
Body: Flat silver tinsel
Ribbing: Oval silver tinsel
Wing - bottom layer yellow bucktail
Middle layer red bucktail
Top layer yellow bucktail
WHITE MARABOU (Gene Landurand's pattern)
Hook: Daiichi # Model 2340 size 2
Tail: Golden Pheasant tippets
Body: Flat gold tinsel
Ribbing: Oval gold tinsel
Wing: White marabou
Throat: Sparse red hackle fibers
Thanks Armand,....Absolute Great story
Tight lines
Gilbuster
