WRITING ON THE FLY

By GEORGE LISET

    This past summer I had acquired a beautiful Orvis bamboo fly rod made by famed fly rod maker Wes Jordan. Most fly fishers recognize the Orvis name, purveyors of fine fly fishing equipment, however, not many would recognize the name Wes Jordan. Bamboo fly rods and their makers are a whole nother rabbit hole. At the time, I also picked up some flies and a book on Carrie Stevens, the famed fly tier from Upper Dam, Maine who is credited with designing the classic Black Ghost fly.

    The gentleman I purchased this from had a house on the Upper Dam and knew Carrie Stevens and thought that some of the flies might have been tied by Carrie. I was beyond excited at that possibility. It was shortly after this that I happened to go to an Antique Show at the Dover, NH Elks. Sitting by the door in his booth was my friend Glenn Grant. I have known Glenn for a number of years from this show and other shows in Maine.

     I always enjoy Glenn’s booth because it is filled with “Guy Stuff”, that is all things guys, like hunting and fishing items. Glenn goes by “The Maine Man”, because he is all about everything Maine. I knew Glenn would appreciate my recent finds. I first told him about my Wes Jordan fly rod because I knew he would know the name. Glenn was as excited as I was because he can appreciate the art of the find, being in the business. I then told him that I possibly had some Carrie Stevens flies. His eyes lit up and then nonchalantly he told me he also knew Carrie Stevens. As a matter of fact she had tied a fly for him at the streamside when he was a young boy.

     I asked him if he still had it. Glenn mentioned that, “No”, he didn’t. Glenn donated it to an auction for the Salmon Project in Maine. Glenn also told me that he donated some of Carrie’s flies to the American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vermont and some to the Outdoor Heritage Museum in Oquossoc, Maine. I asked Glenn where he obtained all the flies.

     Glenn told me that his grandfather owned Grant’s Camps on Kennebago Lake in Maine and that they had a display box of Carrie’s flies that they sold to the sports for seventy-five cents each. When his grandfather sold the camps, he gave Glenn the flies. Glenn told me Carrie never used a vice to tie flies and that she did them all by hand. Glenn said that the sports would bring boxes of fifty hooks when they came to camp and she would tie up flies for them. Glenn also reminded me that at that time not many houses had electricity, and that Carrie tied by lantern or candle light. I eventually found out none of my flies were tied by Carrie, but they were well done and beautiful.

    Glenn shared that when he was younger he used to guide for his grandfather at the Camps. Then he told me about how he guided the late-great Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams. Then he told me about the time he introduced Ted to L.L. Bean. By now I was blown away. Glenn not only knew fly fishing royalty, he was a part of it. I am looking forward to more conversations with Glenn.

 George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.

For about a decade, around Thanksgiving, what is now the Maine Trust for Local News has published the Mainers To Be Thankful For issue.

This year, readers submitted over 50 people to consider for the annual feature. I’m sure many, if not all, deserve the nomination. But as I read the profiles of the 10 you see here, I found myself going back to one word: generous.

Each of the individuals highlighted has been generous with their time, generous in spirit or generous in sharing what they know. They inspire us with their drive to share the best parts of themselves with the world. And at a fractious time in our country’s history, they serve as a reminder of what’s possible if you give what you can to help others.

I feel much the same way about the journalists I’ve worked with the past two months as the new executive editor of the Maine Trust.

This hardworking group has welcomed me with smiles, and tips on where to eat, drink and hike. They are committed to a shared mission of informing their communities and shining a light in dark corners. They do this while working odd hours and asking questions of officials who often don’t want to answer. And if you asked me to name the most important part of my new job, it’s finding ways to support them.

So on that note, I’m writing today to launch the start of a year-end giving campaign for the Maine Trust. It’s been a tough stretch for local journalism and we face the same headwinds as many in our business. As we continue to forge a path to sustainability for local news in Maine, an important part of our future is asking for those who can help to help.

We are grateful to our subscribers for supporting our journalism. And if what you can do this holiday season is keep subscribing, please know how much we appreciate it. If you are in a position to give a little more this year, we would be thankful.

What we do here matters. If you’re reading this column, I probably don’t have to tell you that. And we want to keep doing it for many years to come. Your continued support makes that possible.

Happy Thanksgiving. And thank you for reading.

The Maine Trust for Local News publishes the local newspapers that have served Maine communities for decades. Funds from this donation campaign will directly support our news operations in Maine. Donate at centralmaine.com/donate.

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Michael Toomey, assistant principal at Philip W. Sugg Middle School in Lisbon, high-fives students Tuesday after an assembly honoring him as Maine’s 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

LISBON — Philip W. Sugg Middle School Assistant Principal Michael Toomey was presented with the Maine Principals’ Association’s 2025 Assistant Principal of the Year award Tuesday afternoon.

Over 300 students and staff assembled in the school gymnasium for the surprise announcement that one of their own would be honored as Maine’s best. Waves of excitement went through the crowd of sixth, seventh and eighth graders as Principal Ryan McKenney, with the help of Holly Blair, MPA’s executive director for the professional division, announced Toomey’s latest accomplishment.

“Mr. Toomey ignites our inspiration, fuels our compassion for others and highlights, when needed, the importance of staying between the guardrails on the middle school road of life,” McKenney said as Toomey stood among students and teachers.

“He inspires each of us to be more than we often thought we were capable of,” McKenney continued. “He inspired me to be more than I thought I was capable of. Today, we recognize and congratulate Mr. Toomey as Maine’s Assistant Principal of the Year.”

The people erupted with applause.

In a statement from the MPA, Blair wrote that Toomey started career in Virginia after completing his bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education in 2006.

He began teaching in Virginia in 2008 and took on roles as a special education teacher and behavior management specialist while there. He moved to Pennsylvania where he completed his master’s degree in educational development and strategies at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre.

Toomey came to Maine in 2018 as a special education teacher at Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham. In 2020, he was hired as Sugg Middle School assistant principal and athletic director.

“The MPA is proud to recognize Michael Toomey for his exceptional contributions as an assistant principal,” Blair said, adding that he cultivates a positive school culture and climate, always focusing on student needs. “Michael connects with every student, inspiring them to recognize their potential as leaders, even those who may not see it in themselves.”

After all the high-fives and congratulations, Toomey said his award says as much about the successes of the school administration and student body as it does about him. Success never happens in a vacuum, he said. It is the strengths of those around him which have created the kind of environment needed to succeed, he said.

“As soon as I was notified that I was the recipient of this the first thing that came to mind was all of the things that we have done as a school,” Toomey said. “It really is a team award. I can do all the things that I feel I’m good at and strong with, but none of that matters if the people in this team don’t do their part, too.”

Toomey also thanked the student leadership team, known as the Captains Council, which he started when he joined the administrative team.

“All of our efforts with our community service projects and our charitable efforts — going through that final round allowed me to highlight that student leadership group in particular which is a really proud moment for me.”

Toomey will be honored at the MPA annual Night of Excellence in May.

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