Gray Wolf's Tribute to Carrie Stevens
and Her Flies
This page began as an endeavor to honor the work of Mrs. Carrie G. Stevens. A wonderful lady who changed and
added to the art of tying streamer flies.
I have taken some of the best materials available to me and devoted many
hours to bring you the closest representations of her work as possible. These are by no means counterfeits or an attempt by
me to try to duplicate her work. Her talented hands are gone. However I feel these flies truly represent the look and
style so elegantly portrayed by her. I have tied them as true to pattern as available materials will allow. While originally
shown only for your viewing pleasure, the many, many requests received by me to purchase these flies has allowed me to proudly
offer them to you at a very modest price. I sincerely hope that you enjoy displaying them as much as I have enjoyed
tying them for you.
I would like to take a moment and share one of the nicest experiences that I have had
as a fly tier. A short while ago I had the opportunity to have my work displayed at the Fly Fishing in Maine Conclave
here in Western, Maine. The highlight for me was when a gentleman approched my display with his wife and child . He stood
in front of my Carrie Stevens framed Presentation Flies and the single Carrie Stevens flies that I had on display. He
looked and looked while his head shook from side to side. I think maybe even up and down a couple of times. My thought was,
"Whats up here?"
Then he picked up one of the framed Gray Ghosts, stared at it and put it down. As I approched him
he picked it up again, put it down turned to me and said "Are you the tier?" I proudly said yes. He commented on how well
the flies were tied and how they truly represented Carrie's work. His words to me were "You really have the look."
"Many
peaple tie flies but, you really have the look." He offered his hand to me and said, "My name is Leslie Hilyard and
it is a pleasure to meet you." He asked me why I didn't put the colored bands on the heads of her flies. I thought to myself,
"Oops, I hope I didn't screw up but I went on to explain to him how I thought that these were Carrie's trademark and a signature
she used on her flies. Also out of respect for her, I felt I would not include them in my flies. He explaind how he
had purchased all rights to her business and thought this admirable of me . He asked me if I would include the red, white.
and blue colors in the heads of the World War 2 Series, the General MacAurthur, the Victory, the America and the Casa Blanca.
He said they should be there since they were patriotic flies. He felt I should include the colors on my Spirit of 76
shown on My Originals page on this website. I thanked him and said I would be honored to do so.
I can't explain how this made
me feel. I guess you would have to be me. He then went inside for a few minutes to sign one of his books that was
being offered at silent auction. He also got to see a framed set of my flies that I had donated and flies shown by other tiers.
He came over to me before he left and his words were "It's you, hands down." I thanked Mr. Hilyard and he left the Conclave.
I hope you have enjoyed my little story.
Thank You,
Gray Wolf
All Gray Wolf's Carrie Stevens' Presentation
Streamers are tied on a
circa 1950's antique Edgar Sealey &
Sons Ltd, Redditch England, 1/0 hook. Very similar to the hooks that Carrie Stevens tied on.
The Carrie Stevens' Presentation
Streamers can be purchased indiviually packaged in a glass topped presentation case.
We also offer our own frames, shown here or you may purchase them to display in your own choice
of frame.
