Y1802

Fishing Flies

Royal Wulff Fly

Collins Cover Announcement 

FISHING FLIES

"Royal Wulff"

With this COLLINS FDC I begin to offer the Fishing Flies issue. The stamps were issued in Cuddebackville, New York which is located in some of the nation's best trout fishing country.

Some years ago, my brother-in-law and I would make the annual jaunt to Callicoon Center (northwest of Cuddebackville) and camp out in a farmer's field the night before trout season began. At dawn we'd have a campfire breakfast and then wet our lines in near-by Callicoon Creek which was a tributary of the Delaware River. We did that for five or six years and why we stopped has faded from memory. They were good times.

The area was familiar to me and I determined that Port Jervis on the banks of the Delaware would be our base of operations. With me were my friend Skip and neighbor Hank who would help putting the stamps on and most importantly obtain several related First Day cancels.

The small Cuddebackville Post Office was located by the Basher Kill which is a great trout stream. At opening time there were only a few collectors there but I hear it got busier later in the morning. Once I purchased my stamps, it was back to Port Jervis where I met up with Skip and Hank.

Our first job was to affix the "Royal Wulff" stamp so that I could get on my way. I had the longest distance to travel so I would be the first to leave. The others would put on the remaining stamps and obtain the more local cancels. My goal was a small up-state community that was an absolutely perfect related cancel for this issue -- Fly Creek. What could be more desirable for a fishing fly stamp? Getting there in mid-afternoon, I obtained some excellent postmarks of the killer bar variety.

I left the multi-colored tab number attached to the stamp and the bars nicely hit the stamp and tab. Finishing up, I grabbed a coffee and sandwich at the corner deli and started the long drive home, wondering how Skip and Hank were making out. As for me, the box beside me contained a good day's work with the "Royal Wulff" receiving an outstanding Day of Issue cancel at the Fly Creek Post Office.

When considering what cachet designs to use on my FDCs, I finally decided that the trout theme would be central. What evolved is that each cover in this set will feature a different species of trout. On this cachet, a big brown trout is lurking on the bottom of a fast flowing river. The way the water is sketched and painted, it gives the illusion of a fast moving current. The fish itself has as its most notable markings a series of orange, black and white spots along its side. It patiently waits for the swift water to provide its food supply.

This is what I would consider a good basic First Day Cover. A nice wildlife cachet featuring a brown trout and a wonderful, related Day of Issue cancel from Fly Creek, New York. Reel one in for your collection. Item #Y1802. Royal Wulff Fishing Fly. $9.50.