Maine Trolling Tandems and their dressings

Back in the late 1970's there was a store called Fossa's General Store. It was on Main Street in Dexter. Jim Fossa owned and operated it until he passed away then his son operated it until he sold it. Jim sold fishing flies along with everything else. One day while I was there buying fly tying materials in came a salesman. He had a new trolling tandem that he was showing Jim. It was called "Don's Smelt". It sported a tail made of two sections of cemented black duck quill in the shape of a smelt's tail. The body was made of silver mylar tinsel of medium width. The throat was short red calf tail fibers. The wing was black bucktail to the end of the tail and there was a lateral line made from 2 long thin peacock herls on each side of the wing. The head was black with a painted eye. The salesman told Jim that the black tail was for sales only. He said fishermen know that smelt have a black tail so the fly sells good. He told him to cut the tail off before he fishes it because the still tail causes the fly to spin and twist the leader. I have been selling this fly ever since but without the black tail. When the pearlesent mylar tubing came out I added this tinsel to the fly. I now offer the Don's Smelt in three colors, silver, pearl and silver holographic.

Bodies
This set of three uses A diamond shaped plastic bead sold by "The Beadery". The name of the product is
"PLASTIC BICONE/PEARL BEAD MIX
PURPLE AURORA BOREALIS
#1276H3377L
The store that I bought them in had Blue, Pearl, and Purple.
The number above is for the purple.

Spacer from cotton swab to protect the wire	Silver shag when wet down it looks just like a minnow. It is three dimensional and has action like marabou	Silver lined Red Rocaille Beads available in a craft store

Designed by Ron McKusick in 1997
I designed this fly in 1997. It has been selling very well. In May of 2002, Sharon Smith of West Gardner, Maine contacted me on the phone to say she wanted $35.00 worth. The fly was working very well for her and her friends. I asked her where it was working and she said that she uses it on Kingsbury Pond. She said she trolls it six to sixteen inches behind a 00 silver Dodger. She locates the fish with a fish finder then sets the lines. Paul Jewel of Belgrade Lakes Maine is credited with popularizing the fly. He told me about the first time that he fished it. He was at camp on First Roach Pond in Kokadjo, Maine. He had forgotten his fishing tackle box and noticed the fly still in it's wrapper was in his buddies box. His buddy told him to put it on and fish it. Paul said he landed and released over 50 fish the first day he used it. Paul says he has been recommending the fly ever since. I sell 36 to 50 of them each year at Indian Hill Trading Post in Greenville Maine.

When I first started tying flies there was no Pink Lady streamer pattern written down in any book. Though I had many requests for the pattern. The first Pink Lady I received came from L.L. Bean. It had a wing of orange hackle flanked by a grizzly hackle and a cheek of natural mallard breast. When I brought this fly to Kelly that works at Indian Hill he asked why it was orange, so I designed a Pink Lady Pink and a Pink Lady Orange. I have been selling these two variations since 1989.

Ann's Smelt Tail: Light blue calf tail Body: Mylar pipe Wing: European Canvasback shoulder Collar: red thread Head:Gray monocord and painted eyes	Blue Smelt Pearl Tag: Aqua Blue Uni-Stretch Body: Pearl Mylar pipe Underwing:White bucktail Wing: Blue bucktail Topping: 5 Peacock Herls Head: Black
Don's Smelt Tag: Black Uni-Stretch Body: Mylar pipe Underwing:4 peacock herls Wing: Black bucktail Cheek: Natural Mallard Flank Head: Black	Joe's Smelt Tail: Red calf tail Body: Silver Mylar pipe Wing: European Canvasback shoulder Collar: red thread Head:Black and painted eyes
Gray Ghost Silver Tag: White Thread Body: Silver Mylar pipe Belly: 5 Peacock Herls, then white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 gray hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Head: Black	Gray Ghost Beaded 5 red beads size 4mm between the hooks Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Pumpkin Orange floss or Uni-stretch Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 gray hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Head: Black
Pink Lady Orange Originated by Ron McKusick Body: flat silver tinsel Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 2 orange between 2 grizzly hackles Cheek: lemon wood duck feather Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Pink Lady Pink Originated by Ron McKusick Rib: Oval silver tinsel Body: Flat silver tinsel Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 2 pink between 2 grizzly hackles Cheek:natural mallard flank feather Head: Black
Kim's Smelt Originated by Ron McKusick in 1998 Named for Kim Nichols Body: flat silver tinsel Wing: deer tail hair, bottom: red, then purple then green then black Topping: 5 peacock herls Cheeks: blue willow leaf decal Eye: 1/4 inch silver prisim decal stuck to the willow leaf decal Head: painted black	Freedom Maine Originated by Ron McKusick Body: red thread Belly: red deer tail hair Throat: yellow hackle fibers Wing: 4 white saddles Cheeks: Natural blue Peacock breast Jungle cock eye Head: Black
Green Ghost Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Burnt Orange floss Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 green hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Head: Black	Schoodic Lake Special 5 ORANGE beads size 4mm between the hooks Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Pumpkin Orange floss or Uni-stretch Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 gray hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Head: Black
Ron's Special Originated by Ron McKusick Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Pumpkin Orange floss or Uni-stretch Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: red bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 gray hackles Cheek: light barred Asian Teal Head: Black	Pink Floyd Originated by John McCloud Thread: 6/0 black Body:Pink Floss Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Belly: first 5 peacock herls then Pink Deertail hair Throat: yellow hackle fibers Wing: gray maribou Cheeks; silver pheasant back cheeks Side stripe: 2 strands of fine holographic tinsel on each side of the wing but under the cheek
Nine Three - Holographic body Body: silver holographic mylar pipe Underwing:White deer tail hair Wing: 2 olive green flanked by 2 black Head: Black	Erskine Body: White floss Belly: white deer tail hair Wing 2 silver badger hackles with a pronounced black stripe Glass eyes Head: Black
Barred Orange Pink Lady Designed by Ron McKusick in 1997 Normally I tie this on a size 6 Mustad 3665A Thread - black Body: flat silver tinsel Rib: oval silver tinsel Belly: long white buck tail Throat (fins) - Yellow hackle fibers Underwing: 5 peacock herls that have a natural uncut tip Wing: 2 to 4 grizzly hackles dyed deep Orange Cheek:mallard flank dyed lemon wood duck Head: painted Black	Bleached Out Gray Ghost Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Pumpkin Orange floss or Uni-stretch Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 tanish light gray hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Jungle Cock Eye Head: Black
Black Smelt Pickard's Sport Shop in Brewer Maine asked for this pattern to be tied with a pearl pipe body Body: flat silver tinsel Rib: medium oval silver tinsel Throat: Red Hackle fibers Underwing: White deer tail hair Wing: Black deer tail hair Topping: 5 peacock herls Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Black Nosed Dace Silver pipe body When I started tying for Indian Hill in Greenville, Dale Bennett asked for this pattern. He asked that many of their patterns be tied with the full silver pipe body. Tail: red yarn Body: silver Mylar pipe Wing: Bottom white deer tail hair, then black, brown on top Head: Black
Blue Ghost When I worked at Van Raymond Outfitters in 1988 and 1989 a number of fishermen asked for the Blue Ghost and the Blue Gray Ghost. Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Aqua Blue Uni-stretch Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: blue bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 blue hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Jungle Cock Eye Head: Black	Chesunkook Smelt Originated by Maine Guide Ed Richards Guide at Frost Pond This fly has accounted for many big salmon on Chesuncook Lake This is the dressing that Alvin Theriault gave me. Body: yellow floss Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Belly: White deer tail hair Throat short yellow deer tail hair Underwing: 5 peacock herl Wing: 4 bright yellow/green hackles Cheeks: mallard flank dyed yellow Jungle cock eye Head: black
Crystal Blue Smelt As tied for Indian Hill. I have been selling this variation for over 12 years. Body: flat silver tinsel Underwing: white deer tail hair Lateral line: a few strands of dark blue crystal flash Overwing: blue deer tail hair Topping: 5 peacock herls Head: black	Crystal Pink Smelt As tied for Indian Hill. I have been selling this variation for over 2 years. Body: flat silver tinsel Throat: red hackle fibers Underwing: white deer tail hair Lateral line: a few strands of rose crystal flash Overwing: pink deer tail hair Topping: 5 peacock herls Head: black
Gray Ghost Special In 1993 Newport Sporting Goods asked me to tie this pattern for them. Don Briggs gave me the pattern. Body: Fluorescent orange fly line backing Rib: Flat silver medium tinsel Belly: White deer hair Throat: Hot orange hackle fibers Underwing: 5 peacock herls Wing: 4 gray hackles Cheek: silver Pheasant Eyes: Jungle cock (I didn't use it back then) Head: flame red orange	McQ6 Smelt Originated by Ron McKusick Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Beads: red-silver-red-silver-red Belly: white deer tail hair Throat: yellow hackle fibers Underwing: deer tail hair first purple then blue then 5 peacock herls Wing: 4 olive gray saddle hackles Cheeks: light barred Asian Teal flank Eyes: Jungle Cock Head: Black
Grand Laker Body: Black Floss Rib: Fine flat gold tinsel in a X pattern Belly: Natural brown deer hair Wing: 4 natural brown hackles Jungle cock eye Head : Black	Queen Bee Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Underwing: Bottom yellow then white deer tail hair Wing: 4 natural brown saddle hackles Throat: red hackle fibers Jungle cock eye Head: black
Green Bush Shiner Originated by Ron McKusick Body: Aqua Blue Uni-stretch Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Belly: Chartreuse deer tail hair Wing: light furnace Cheeks: Green Peacock back feather Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Green King Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Underwing:White deer tail hair Wing: 2 grizzly flanked by a pair of olive green Head: Black
Jeff's Smelt Originated by Jeff LaBree in 1993 Written up in The Northwoods Sporting Journal in 2002 This fly took 3 huge trout from Carry Pond caught by Jeff's uncle and V. Paul Reynolds. Hooks 8x long size 4, or 6x long size 6 and 8 Thread: 6/0 red Tail - Golden Pheasant tippets Body:Copper diamond braid Belly: White maribou Throat: yellow hackle fibers Wing: gray maribou, a few strands of Krystal flash Topping: peacock herl Cheeks; red hackle fibers Eye: Painted yellow with a black pupil	Pink Floyd Originated by John McCloud Thread: 6/0 black Body:Pink Floss Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Belly: first 5 peacock herls then Pink Deertail hair Throat: yellow hackle fibers Wing: gray maribou Cheeks; silver pheasant back cheeks Side stripe: 2 strands of fine holographic tinsel on each side of the wing but under the cheek
Mickey Finn Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Wing: Bottom yellow deer tail hair, then red, yellow on top Head: Black	Mickey Finn Body:silver holographic mylar pipe Wing: Bottom yellow deer tail hair, then red, yellow on top Head: Black
King Smelt Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Wing: sparse deer tail hair, bottom white,then blue, purple, green, black on top Eye: Painted Eye Head: Black	Peep Smelt Originated by Ron McKusick Body: White Peep Tube covered with large pearl mylar piping cemented in place Belly: White deer tail hair Throat: Short yellow hackle fibers Wing: Bucktail, bottom red, then blue then black Topping: peacock herl Eye: large silver prism decal Head: Black
Maggie May Originated by Ron McKusick in May of 1999 Body: Copper diamond Braid Belly: Orange deer tail Throat: Barred golden pheasant tippet fibers Wing: 2 hot orange hackles Topping: 5 peacock herls Cheeks: Jungle cock shoulder feather that has a golden nail tied long Head: Flame Red	Sebasticook Orange Originated by Ron McKusick in 1978 Body: Light Orange floss or Pumpkin Orange Uni-Stretch Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Throat: Orange deer tail hair followed by yellow hackle fibers Wing: 4 orange hackles Cheek: Natural Pearl Guinea with large dots Head: Fluorescent flame red
Red Gray Ghost Thread: 6/0 black Body:Red Floss Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Belly: red deer tail hair Throat: sparse yellow hackle fibers Underwing: 5 strands of Peacock herl Wing:4 Gray Saddle Hackles Cheeks: Silver Pheasant	Red Gray Ghost - HOT Thread: 6/0 black Body:Fluorescent Hunter Orange wool or cord Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Belly: red deer tail hair Throat: sparse yellow hackle fibers Underwing: 5 strands of Peacock herl Wing:4 Gray Saddle Hackles Cheeks: Silver Pheasant Jungle Cock Eye
Widow Maker Tail: black and white silver pheasant wing quill segment Tag: Red thread Body: Large Pearl Mylar pipe Throat: White deer tail hair then a long golden pheasant crest Wing: Long Mallard flank Head: flame red thread	Moose River Smelt Originated by Ron McKusick in 1990 Very popular is size 4 tied on an 8x long shank hook Tag: red Body: pearl mylar pipe Belly: white bucktail hair Throat: yellow hackle fibers Underwing: 6 strands of rainbow crystal flash Wing: 4 barred ginger hackles Cheeks: natural mallard flank Eyes: jungle cock Head: gray thread
Supervisor Tail: red yarn Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Underwing: white deer tail hair Wing: 2 kingfisher blue hackles Cheeks:1 kelly green shorter hackle on each side of the blue Topping: 5 peacock herls Head: Black	Sugar Island Smelt Designed by Ron McKusick 1999 Thread - black Body: flat silver tinsel Belly: long white buck tail Throat (Gills) - red bunny fur or hackle fibers Underwing: sea green krystal flash Wing: 2 kingfisher blue saddle hackles Sides: a light gray hackle on each side of the blue, the gray should be 1/2 the length of the blue Topping: 5 peacock herls that have a natural uncut tip Cheeks: India Blue Peacock saddle feather - these are sometimes referred to as "Goats toe" or green/gold back feathers. They are found at the base of the peacock eye feathers between the wings on the back. Head: painted black
Silver Doctor Bucktail Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Wing: Bottom white deer tail hair, then yellow, red, blue on top Topping: 5 peacock herls Head: Black	Gray Ghost Rib: Medium flat silver tinsel Body: Pumpkin Orange floss or Uni-stretch Underwing: 5 Peacock Herls Belly: white bucktail Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Wing: 4 gray hackles Cheek: Silver Pheasant Back feather Jungle Cock Eye Head: Black
Goldie Hawn
Originated by Ron McKusick 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: Drake Hooded Merganser brown flank feather Eye: Jungle Cock nail
Parmachene Belle This is the pattern that I tied for L.L. Bean in the late 1970's. Tail: Golden Pheasant Crest Butt: 3 turns of peacock herl Body: Yellow floss Rib: Flat gold tinsel Throat: long soft hackle fibers , red near the hook then white Wing: Long white saddle hackles then a shorter red hackle on each side Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Parmachene Belle This is the dressing that I sell now Tail: long soft hackle fibers , red over white Body: Yellow floss Rib: Flat silver tinsel Throat: long soft hackle fibers , red near the hook then white Wing: Long white saddle hackles then a shorter red hackle on each side Jungle cock eye Head: Black
Barred Lady A fellow that was fishing Green Lake contacted me the last weekend of 2000. He needed This fly. He said he had bought one at Pickard's Sport Shop and it was the only fly that was working. Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Underwing: white deer tail hair Wing: 2 orange in the center then a brown on each side then a grizzly on the outside 6 hackles in all. Cheeks: dark barred mallard. You can find this feather on the back of the drake duck near the shoulders. Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Eric's Nine-Three Body: Flat silver tinsel Rib: Oval silver tinsel Underwing: white deer tail hair Wing:2 purple between 2 yellow Head: Black
Wood Special There are various dressings for the Wood Special Originated by Joe Sterling This is the dressing I use Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet barbules Rib: Medium oval gold tinsel Body: Burnt orange medium chenille Wing: Lemon wood duck flank or mallard flank dyed lemon wood duck Collar: 3 turns of long soft grizzly Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Wood Special There are various dressings for the Wood Special Originated by Joe Sterling Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet barbules Rib: Medium Flat Silver tinsel Body: Floresent orange medium chenille Wing: Lemon wood duck flank or mallard flank dyed lemon wood duck Collar: 3 turns of long soft grizzly Jungle cock eye Head: Black
Brown Woody Originated by Ron McKusick in 1998 Tail: Golden Pheasant tippet barbules Rib: Medium oval gold tinsel Body: Tobacco Brown medium chenille Wing: mallard flank dyed dark brown Collar: 3 turns of long soft natural dark brown hackle Jungle cock eye Head: Black	Jimmy Spencer's Smelt Originated by Jimmy Spencer of Corinna, Maine in 1986 Tag: Black Body: Pearl Mylar pipe Belly: white bucktail hair Throat: Yellow Hackle fibers Underwing: 5 peacock herls Wing: 4 golden wheat hackles Eyes: Maine Jungle Cock back feather (Ruffed Grouse) Head: Gray
Yellow Peril Originated by Jimmy Spencer of Corinna, Maine in 1976 Tail: Red hackle fibers Rib: medium flat gold tinsel Body: Yellow floss Underwing: White bucktail hair Wing: 4 yellow saddle hackles Cheeks: Natural mallard flank Eye: Maine Jungle cock Head: black	White Peril Originated by Jimmy Spencer of Corinna, Maine in 1976 Tail: Red hackle fibers Rib: medium flat silver tinsel Body: White floss Underwing: White bucktail hair Wing: 4 white saddle hackles Cheeks: Natural mallard flank Eye: Maine Jungle cock Head: black
Jerry's Smelt Tail: red calf tail hair Tag: red Body: Pearl mylar pipe Wing: European Canvasback shoulder feather Head: Black	Doc LaBarge Named for Doctor LaBarge of Dexter, ME. This is the fly that he used to tie and gave one to me. Doc used to fish the fly in Lake Wassookeag and on the float bridge that connected Big and Little Wassookeag in Dexter. Hook:Original used Mustad 9575 size 6 Tail and Throat: Orange hackle barbs Rib: Medium flat gold tinsel (5 ribs) Body: Black floss built up to a slight oval shape Underwing: Orange bucktail Wing: 2 to 4 golden badger hackles Eye: Jungle Cock nail Head: Black
Miller's Blue Smelt This fly was tied and designed for Miller's Guiding Service of Jackman Maine. Ray Miller uses it on the Rangeley Lakes in June. Ray says it's his favorite fly. Body: flat silver tinsel Beads: 3 red Gills: red hackle fibers tied in under the hook Wing: white bucktail topped with blue bucktail Topping: 5 peacock herls Head: black	Miss Lucky This fly sells well for Van Raymond Outfitters and Pickards Sport Shop, both in Brewer, Maine. Originated by Ty Coates Body: Flat gold tinsel Rib: Oval gold tinsel Belly: white deer tial hair Throat: red hackle fibers Wing: 4 pink hackles Topping: 5 peacock herls Cheek: silver pheasant back Eye:Jungle cock eye Head: Black