The "Art" of Fly Tying

[skinhead]

Miles,

Not too sure how to explain it. It's one of those things that I do without thinking about it. Still I'll have a bash. Set a size 8-10 long shank hook in the vice. Catch in thread and run down to bend. If required form leaded underbody. Tie in the tail (assuming that you are having one). Now tie in 2 lengths of lava lace or similar, 1 on either side of the hook shank. You can use 2 different colours to get a top & bottom of the fly, e.g black & yellow (my favourite). Tie off the thread with a whip finish. Next tie the 2 lengths of lava lace together using a single overhand knot. Hold BOTH standing lines & tag ends & gently push together. A loop will form in the knot. Pass the hook shank into this loop & tighten the knot at the point where you caught in the lava lace. Repeat this process butting each knot against the last, making sure that you tie one knot left over right & the next right over left. This will ensure that you don't get a spiral weave. When you reach the desired point on the hook shank re-set the tying thread and tie off the lava lace. Form the head with a whip finish. I hope I've remembered the process correctly.

[Old Smoothound]

Nice post Skinhead....it is the way to do it. You can tie some superb patterns using this technique.

Miles

Polish woven Nymphs are one of them I will try and post a picture of the method over the weekend so you can see it in action and the finished article.

Give it a try you'll be surprised how easy it is.

I hope this helps.

[Miles]

Thanks Skinhead, excellent description and Smoothie, look forward to seeing more pics of your artistry.

Like all of these things (especially where fly fishing is concerned) its practice, I guess. I only decided to start 'rolling my own' last year and since then its been a bit sporadic. The traditional patterns are, well, traditional, but what really interested me were the patterns in a book I bought whilst in the US: rubber legged bugs, bangers, poppers and plenty of bright and fluffy bugs. I think some of these are becoming popular here too.

Last week I was fishing (for rainbows) on a small lake and got chatting to another angler about the cold and how difficult the fishing was. Other angler was very much a traditionalist it seemed - disappointed that there was no rise and felt that he was 'cheating a bit' fishing something like a pheasant tail nymph.

I, slightly sheepishly, showed him the fluo-orange streamer I'd been inching along (hopefully) near the bottom. He then admitted that he'd 'found' a red rubber-legged creation that someone had left on the ground that he was going to have a go with, somewhat in desperation. It cheered me up a bit that even the traditionalists will use a 'lure' now and again. It always seemes to me that it doesn't matter too much what 'type' of pattern you use, what works for one might not work for another (both fish and angler).

Back with 'imitatives' though, the woven czech/polish nymphs that I've seen have been very lifelike and along with shellbacks, I've got to get into tying some of these segmented bugs.

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Miles,

I have tied up a couple of Czech Nymphs using the open weave method, but with a "twist" I will be posting the tying recipe and photos soon, so keep an eye out for them.

I have used the nymphs in Chalk Streams and on big wild rivers like the River Dee in Wales, both for Grayling and Brownies. They are awesome flies to use, but you must use the Czech "Rolled Nymph" method to make them really work. Its no good dead drifting them.

I will explain the Czech Nymphing method in another thread that is yet to be written!

[kiwimarty]

Although I know so very little about fly fishing, I would like to just say how fascinating these threads are that you guys write.

Thank you all.

Kiwi.