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The secret of Romeo's Passion:
Flies From Thunder Bay |
Flies used by North Shore anglers are larger than their counterparts further south. Generally speaking, the farther north you travel in North America, the larger the insects are--the hatches may be less prolific in northern latitudes, but the individual insects are larger.
Rancourt is a devout steelheader and has developed many unique and productive steelhead patterns. Romeo's Revenge is a North Shore pattern that appeals to a steelhead's love of eggs. The Revenge is tied with a rubber material derived from "birthday balloons."
The Blue Belly Dancer and the Nipigon Perch are from Rancourt's streamer collection. While most streamer patterns are an inch or two long, local anglers tie streamers up to four inches long for fishing the Nipigon River and Lake Superior. Pike anglers, in fact, should try our brook trout streamers. The Blue Belly Dancer is effective specifically when fishing river mouths or "the flats" along Superior's north coast. It resembles smelt or smolt.
Rancourt ties flies for River's Edge Fly Shop in Thunder Bay and Superior Fly Fishing shop in Superior, Wis., and guides fly anglers.
By Scott Smith
Like most fly anglers, Romeo Rancourt began tying flies to support his passion. He approached fly tying frugally and imaginatively, using readily available, unconventional and sometimes unusual materials. Eventually he evolved into a remarkable fly tier and turned his passion into a profession.
Rancourt lives in my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ontario, and spends his time teaching his two young sons the art of fly fishing and fly tying. He fishes the McIntyre and McKenzie rivers in Thunder Bay, and sojourns frequently to the Nipigon River and the steelhead and coaster rivers of Lake Superior's north coast.
Romeo is a committed conservationist is an active member and chair of the Thunder Bay Fly Fishing Club. With club members, he advocates for coaster brook trout recovery, stream rehabilitation and angling regulations that promote increased angling opportunities and reduced harvest.
ROMEO'S PATTERNS
One of the most versatile of Rancourt's patterns is a dry fly known as The Secret. This fly is designed to match the most common hatches of caddis, mayflies and stoneflies in North Shore waters. The peacock herl body reflects light and gives the body life-like, subtle movements.
| THE SECRET Hook: Mustad 94831 size #10-#14 Tail: Red squirrel tail Body: Peacock herl twisted and wrapped Rib: Fine copper wire Hackle: Brown and grizzly Head: A small clump of deer hair. |
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TAMBLYN DAMSEL Hook: Tiemco 5212 size #8-#10 Thread: Olive or black Unithread 6/0 Tail: Green bucktail mixed with several strands of pine-green Krystal Flash. Wing: Dyed black bucktail or black bear Body: Six strands of peacock herl Hackle: Black Eyes: Black mono (melted) or black plastic bead chain |
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ROMEO'S REVENGE
Hook: Tiemco 2457 size #8-#10 Weight: Lead or copper wire wrapped in the shape of an egg Thread: 6/0 Unithread, white or beige Body: Latex balloon with matching Krystal Flash (egg/attractor colors) folded over the egg-shaped lead. Hackle: Remainder of Krystal Flash is pulled back and tied off with a whip-finished head. |
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BLUE BELLY DANCER Hook: Tiemco 300 #2 Thread: Unithread 6/0 Tail: Blue marabou with eight strands of royal blue Krystal Flash Body: Blue steelhead dubbing (lead underbody) Rib: Fine silver wire Wing: Chinchilla rabbit strip Hackle: Red Chinese neck hackle with guinea hackle over top. Comments: Fly should be 4 inches long to imitate a Great Lakes smelt. This is a great "flats" or river-mouth pattern. |
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copyright Midwest Fly Fishing Magazine 1999
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