EarlStetson

Sadly, this past weekend at Spey Nation, I learned about the passing of Earl Stetson last month from Brian Sturrock of Montreal. Earl was 86 and lived in New Hampshire when he wasn't fishing the salmon rivers of Quebec. I knew he was sick. You can read the full obituary at http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/community/obituaries/90829-earl-williams-stetson
From http://www.conwaydailysun.com/index.php/outdoors/fishing/90950-valley-angler-remembering-earl-stetson
"If you met Earl for the first time and didn't know he was a salmon fisher you would before you left. Earl was by all accounts an excellent engineer, husband and father, but, above all, he was a passionate salmon angler. Earl and Linda spent every summer for 25 years perusing Salmo salar on the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec. Earl loved to talk salmon fishing. I for one never grew tired of listing to him speak on the subject. There was always something to be learned from Earl. It didn't matter if the subject was casting, reading salmon water or the art of tying salmon flies. Earl knew his stuff."
I met Earl one afternoon many years ago while I was sitting at the picnic table overlooking a pool called Montagnard. Montagnard is the first pool in zone 9 on the York River. Earl and I discussed salmon fishing and salmon flies. It was there that he showed me 'Earl's Fly'. It is a simple fly that is very effective. After all, aren't the best flies the ones that are the easiest to dress yet are very successful? I think so!
Earl told me that zone 9 was his favorite zone to fish and that Montagnard held a special place for him. Attached is a photo of Montagnard after it makes a right angle bend. That is Rick Hollenbaugh fishing the riffles upstream at the bend. The lie is in the riffles up river from Rick.
In the following years I spoke to Earl and his wife Linda many times. Always about the Gaspe area, Atlantic Salmon and Salmon flies.



Earl's Fly
Hook: Gamakatsu T10-6H #6 NS finish
Tail: Peacock Krystal flash (about 10 short lengths)
Body: Peacock Krystal flash wound like floss
Wing: sparse Black Bear
Head: Black 70 denier Ultra Thread; double whip finish; 3 coats of Celiire

There are many variations of this fly. Other variations include ones that have a black hen collar and ones that have a bright yellow butt and others that combine both of these materials. The fly presented here is the one that Earl showed me.
Rest in peace my friend!