Have I got a story to tell you. I am currently deployed with a Maine National Guard unit. The unit is motivated, dedicated, High Speed and, let’s say…. resourceful.

I haven’t tied flies for over fifteen years, basically because I didn’t have the hand/eye coordination for it, so it was easier to spend the money to support other people’s hobbies, and artwork, while enjoying mine. My Chaplain, a very woodsy, outdoorsey, and a damn good chaplain, thought it would be a great idea to bring pieces opf Maine with the unit so people didn’t feel so far away from home. His primary means of doing that? Fly tying Kits.

I work for my chaplain, and I miss the fishing, so automatically, I jumped into it full force, or full farce, if you saw my first fly… but slowly I have been improving.

We are on a multinational base, Belgian, Canadians and Brits all walk around here, and something caught our eye. A group of Brits, Scotts actually, walk around with a giant red plume of feathers in their berets. The group is referred to as the Nightwatch, and after learning their history, I came to view the feather as a symbol of honor and lineage, much like a ranger tab.

As you may have guessed, I found one of these feathers, not a plume, but a single feather, lying on the ground, fully red and pliable, freshly fallen, and… well… pocketed it.

My chaplain was as excited as I was when I told the story to him the next day, and we debated on what we should do with such a wonderful piece of history….

Thru careful selection, placement and a steady hand, this single feather has given itself to 5 different flies and streamers, to include, 2 decievers, 1 Nymnph and a misquito. All of these have been given as gifts to family members, and a few have already caught some nice fish. This time next year, I plan on using one on East Branch, the chappy? He’s gonna be somewhere deep in the woods, trying to catch up on whatevver time he missed this year.