Memphremagog Smelt

Memphremagog Smelt

Henry McGowan

Hook - Mustad 94720 

Thread - White

Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel 

Body - Orange silk floss

Belly - White bucktail

Throat - Red hackle fibers

Wing - Yellow bucktail under purple bucktail

Topping - 3-4 peacock herl

Cheek - Patridge back feather

Head - Black

Notes: Straddling the boarder of Quebec and Vermont, Lake Memphremagog has a healthy population of smelts which are preyed upon by landlocked salmon, bass, trout and other apex predators. Trolling the streamer is a common method of fishing the deeper waters. McGowan declared that “Any damn fool can do … dragging a sliver of tin through deep water on a metal line for rainbows, lakers and such”. McGowan was a Memphremagog guide and developed the streamer around 1930.