Don Balke (North Carolina, B. 1933) "Fishing Flies - Jock Scott" Signed lower left. Original Watercolor painting on Illustration Board.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally featured on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the U.S. 29c Jock Scott issued May 31, 1991.

Relentlessly, and with but one purpose, an Atlantic Salmon will return to the very stream of its birth. Driven by instinct to continue its species, it will undergo many hazards, cross thousands of miles of ocean, and battle through torrents and rapids until it reaches the clean spawning gravel where it mates. Disinterested in food after it leaves the sea, an Atlantic Salmon will nonetheless strike at a bright lure out of annoyance or reflex, and this quality provides fortunate anglers with what is still considered the ultimate flyfishing challenge. When sportfishing became accepted as a gentleman's activity during the Victorian era, salmon fishermen took flytying to its most fanciful and dramatic extension. A single fly like the Jock Scott (developed in 1844 by a tier of the same name) might take hours to tie, and consume dozens of different materials. Scott's creation consisted of bits of feather from no less than golden pheasant, Indian crow, ostrich, toucan, cock chicken, gallina, wild turkey, bustard, mallard, macaw, swan, jungle cock and kingfisher. Today, few anglers could afford the luxury of fishing with such complicated and expensive flies, and much simpler versions, like the one in Don Balke's painting on this First Day Cover, have been developed instead. But the original Jock Scott and other romantic ties to a fanciful past remain -- displayed in airtight cases befitting their status as true works of 19th century art.

Image Size: 20.75 x 16.25 in.
Overall Size: 20.75 x 19 in.
Unframed.
(B13011)

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20.75 x 19 in