NEWLY DISCOVERED CARRIE STEVENS-ORIGINATED TROUT FLY TO BE FEATURED AT TROUT UNLIMITED MARCH FUND-RAISER BENEFITING MAINE FISHING, CONSERVATION

Synergistic “Lady Miller” Streamer Fly Tied with Selene of Maine to Be Auctioned Freeport Hilton Garden March 16, 2024 — Dinner, Auction, Raffle, and Fish Stories

An unfinished trout fly created by legendary Maine tyer Carrie Stevens in the mid-1900’s and completed by modern fly crafter Selene of Maine this year will be featured at a fund-raiser to benefit Maine fishing and conservation hosted by the Merrymeeting Bay Chapter of Trout Unlimited (MMBTU).

The synergistic “Lady Miller” fly spans the centuries and is a one-of-a-kind fly that can never be replicated.  Created to imitate natural baitfish for trout and salmon, the fly was tied entirely using hand-held techniques and without the use of unnecessary tools. The finished presentation fly is beautifully mounted on Yew and stained glass and is titled and marked by Selene of Maine. It will be offered at auction at MMBTU’s March 16, 2024, “March Brown Madness” dinner, auction, raffle, and fellowship event in Freeport.

Gala Event Saturday, March 16, 2024, Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park Street, Freeport

Members and the public are invited to attend the annual gala dinner as we gather sportspeople and conservationists to meet old friends and new and raise funds for the vital local conservation and community work of MMBTU.  The event takes place on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at The Hilton Garden Inn, 5 Park Street, Freeport, from 5-9 p.m. 

MMBTU programs focus on the local community and include sponsoring area youth for the week-long Trout Camp to learn about flyfishing for wild trout and salmon, getting involved in area stream restoration such as dam removal and fish passage on Freeport’s Frost Gully Brook, and staffing programs to teach fly casting and fly-tying.  

Special speaker for MMBTU’s “March Brown Madness” will be the Commissioner of Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, Judy Camuso.  She will update us on IF&W’s plans and progress in dealing with treasured Maine species like brook trout, landlocked salmon, and Arctic char. 

Synergistic Fly Spans Century

“This has been an amazing process and my finest presentation fly was born with Carrie Stevens’ unfinished fly,” said Selene of Maine, an award-winning fly-tyer and proprietor of Selene’s Fly Shop in Gardiner. “It is a synergistic fly creation with energy to be shared with many.”

Half of the finished fly was created by Carrie Stevens, one of the most famous fly-tyers of all time and an iconic woman in Maine’s sporting history.  Self-taught, Carrie pioneered in the early years of the 1900s a technique whereby she tied by hand only, without the use of a fly-tying vise.  Her salmon and trout flies were both works of art and wonderfully effective in attracting large fish.  Her husband was a noted guide from their base at Upper Dam, and sporting clients began to order large numbers of flies from Carrie.  Because of her skill, that included landing a 6 lb. 13-ounce brook trout, Carrie was featured in two issues of Field & Stream magazine.  Carrie put the Rangeley, Maine, area on the sporting map as she invented many flies, including the iconic Grey Ghost.  Untold numbers of sportspeople have been inspired by Carrie’s work.  

Shift to the modern era and very few fly tyers use Carrie’s methods for producing flies.  Noteworthy among them is Selene of Maine.  Selene is dedicated to fly fishing and is recognized across the US and beyond for her art and her commitment to training people of all ages in the pleasures of this sport.  Selene had the great good fortune of acquiring some of Carrie Stevens’ materials and partly finished flies, allowing Selene to add her own artistry to that of Carrie Stevens.  The fly (photo below) to be auctioned is a gorgeous example of that partnership from the beyond, a unique fly that spans nearly a century of innovation in the sport.  

Fly Auction Steps

Live bidding will take place on this item at the event, tickets and details below.

Email bids for the “Lady Miller“ will be accepted until 12:01 a.m. Eastern on the day of the auction — March 16, 2024 —  via email only to: jbush@tumaine.org. Bidders must include their name, physical address, email address, phone number, and their maximum bid. If bidding exceeds their maximum bid, they are out of the running.  At 7:30 p.m. Eastern on March 16, bidding by phone only commences.  Bidders are to place their bids via 856-448-1925.  Bidding is open until the item is sold to the highest bidder. 

The auction team will do its best to handle phone bids but can make no guarantees regarding connection or access. 

Fishing Trips, Outdoor Gear

“March Brown Madness” also offers the chance to upgrade outdoor gear and plan for exciting new adventures in 2024 as an auction, silent auctions, and raffles will be a fun part of the evening for a great cause.

The fund-raiser will feature top quality items from premier brands including L. L. Bean, Patagonia, Orvis, Yeti, and many others.  Thanks to generous donors, attendees will have the chance to experience world class fishing with outfitters like Cobb’s Pierce Pond Camps and Bradford Camps.  MMBTU directors and members also are donating custom fly selections and special flyfishing trips for trout and striped bass. 

Tickets for the dinner and program must be purchased in advance from the MMBTU website,  www.mmbtu.org/.  The cost is $50 per person or sponsor a table for eight people for only $350 and receive $200 worth of general raffle tickets.  Take the opportunity to purchase additional general raffle tickets on or before March 9 and we will give you a 2 for 1 bonus on your purchase.

For more information contact MMBTU President Jeff Bush jbush@tumaine.org or at 856-448-1925. 

MMBTU Mission

Our mission is to conserve, protect, and restore our area’s cold-water resources and the watersheds on which they depend. Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest cold-water fisheries conservation organization dedicated to caring for and recovering America’s rivers and streams so our children can experience the joy of wild and native trout and salmon. Across the country, TU brings to bear local, regional, and national grassroots organizing, durable partnerships, science-backed policy muscle, and legal firepower on behalf of trout and salmon fisheries, healthy waters, and vibrant communities.