The Fly Tier's Fly Box

by Dewey H. Gillespie December 5, 1993

He's got Brass Bugs and a Yellow May, Blond Burlap and a Shrimp,

Black Creeper and Green Damsel, a Green Rock Worm;  These are nymphs.

Rough Badger Stone, and Golden Stone, Light Caddis; Goodness sakes!

The Fledermause, a Muskrat and a Black and Yellow Drake.

In Dry Flies, a Royal Coachman, a Mosquito and Blue Dunn.

In Wulff's, he's got the Whites and Blonds and Greys and Grizzly ones.

Why, there's even deer hair Bombers that are fished till early fall,

And of course, Rat-Faced MacDougall who's the Daddy of them all.

          Queen of Waters, Wickham's Fancy, Katterman and Peter Ross,

Female Beaverkill, and Woodruff, Near Enough and MacIntosh.

Soldier Palmer, Badger Spider, Dark Cahill          and Green Egg Sac,

Coffin Fly and Greenwell's Glory, Black and Brown and Yellow Gnats.

Little Hare's Ear and Pink Lady, a Cross Special, Ginger Quill.

Gordon, Boercher, Leadwing Coachman and an Irresistible,

Dr. Parker, Colonel Monel, Salmon Skater, March Brown Flick,

Boys are just the Cock-for-Dolly, or they'll really do the trick.

In Wet Flies, without word of lie, they put the rest to shame.

There are hundreds, even thousands, more than he could ever name.

Beyond a doubt, there's more about than thousands, he'd suppose.

But, he'd like to take a minute just to name some that he knows.

There's the Grey Rat and a Silver Rat, a Black and Copper too,

A Mickey Finn, an Oriole, Jock Scott and Cosseboom.

A Squirrel Tail with a red butt and a Black Bear butted green,

A Lady Joan, Red Abby and the well-known Green Machine.

Have you seen Rose of New England?  Have you fished with Colonel Bates?

He has tried Herb Johnson Special, he has tried a Black Nosed Dace.

Dusty Miller, Copper Killer, Silver Doctor, Blue and Gray,

Abby, Baron, Baker, Akroyd, Kate and Lizzie, Claret Jay.

Lady Lois, Golden Pheasant, Durham Rangers one to three,

Silver Ghost and Bloody Mary, Bourbon Buck, and Miramichi.

Lady Caroline and Bulldog, Jungle Cock and Rusty Rat,

There's a Dandy, Douglas Graham and a Connemara Black.

Pearl and Ruby, Little Kelly, Lady Blanche and Lady Grace,

Kitty, Buttons, Ethel, Elsie, Bebits, Lady of the Lake.

Lady Bell and Campbell's Fancy, Dirty Orange, He Shoots-He Scores,

Donkey, Jackass, Drummond, Druggist, Silver Grey and Owenmore.

Hairy Mary, Abe Munn Killer, Roger's Fancy, Romany Rye,

Renous Special, Rutledge, Conrad, Boar and Ingal's Butterfly.

Cains River Roaring Rapids, Coiner, Jeannie, Major Griggs,

And a fly called Oki Gouchie, tied and named by just a kid.

Always liked Orange Blossom Special, Fiery Brown and Jock ' O ' Dee,

Warden's Wonder,  Warden's Worry,  Water Witch and Mystery.

Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Black Dog and Diplomat 

Price's Dose, Nipisiguit, Black Squirrel, Whale River Rat

Silver Sides and Yellow Butcher, Magog Smelt, and Parson Tom,

Joe O'Donnell, Muddler Minnow, Smelt and Silver Wilkinson.

All these flies the angler carries, most of them you've seen before.

But, I know that you have not seen one that's called The Doukabor.

T'was created in the Nineties, by a man who loved to fish,

Yet he will not take the credit, thus, remains anonymous.

Preacher, Presbyterian Killer, Priest and Deacon, Brother John.

Rainbow, Rat and Nova Scotia, Beauty and John Henderson.

Black Maria, Bucktail Doctor, Charlie-O and Christmas Tree,

Gorgeous George, Lemac, Marauder, Micmac Moose and Lowery.

Wringer, Woodchuk, Silver Monkey, Veever's Fancy, Texas Jack,

Arndilly Fancy, Whalen Galen, Silver Prince, Professor, Bats.

Thunder and Lightning, Irish Warrior, Dreadnought, Logie and Carron,     

Popham, Childers, Helmsdale Doctor, Evening Star and Rosy Dawn.

Green Highlander, Green Peacock, Torrish,          Blackville, Tippet Grub

Maxwell, Lawrence Connick Special, Gravel Bed and Toodle Bug

Every color of the rainbow is contained within his box.

Every sort of fur and feather from a deer, to Jungle Cock.

Ribs of gold and silver tinsel, over precious floss and hair,

Bought and traded the world over, dressed with love and tender care.

When his fly and leader's tethered, and they're cast upon the wind.

He will rest them on the river, for the salmon, deep within.

Then the fly that he has chosen, with his skill will take the test.

Now  it's up to Salmo Salar, and our God to do the rest.