The "Art" of Fly tying - The Czech Nymph

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Guys,

Following on from the post about open weaving I thought it a good idea to show you how it is done.

What you will need:

Fulling Mill Grub Hooks sizes 8-10
Crochet yarn (colours of your choice)
Sticky back lead (thin)
14/0 tying thread black
Brown Flexibody
Golden Pheasant centre tail fibres
Head varnish or head cement

Take a Fulling mill size 8 or 10 grub hook hold in vice.

Take a very thin strip of sticky back lead foil and wind onto the hook staring one third of the way down the hook shank.



No wind up towards the eye in overlapping turns, stopping well short circa 4-5mms.




Now take it back to the point at which you started. Using your fingernail, tease or nip off the foil until if breaks, now smooth it down.



Catch in your tying thread just behind where the lead foil stops, wind down to the bend in touching turns, go halfway around the bend of the hook. Now take the thread back up to where you started and catch in the yarn. One strand either side of the hook shank. Not on the top as this will make the fly too bulky.



Now tie in the yarn all the way down to the bend of the hook, ensuring that the yarn stays on the side of the hook shank all the way back down and that the same colour stays on the same side of the hook and does not cross-over at all.



Tie off your thread and cut it off. You do not need the tying bobbin and thread at this stage

We are now ready to start to weave:

The rule of open weaving is that the colour to stay on the top MUST be tied onto the top, if not it will end up on the underside of the hook shank. And the yarn to stay on the bottom MUST be the yarn you use to start the overhand knot off with and MUST cross over the top off the other yarn. It sounds difficult but is easy really!

Turn your tying vice towards you so you are looking straight down the hook shank, it makes it easier to weave when you do this.




Take the two yarns and make a loose overhand knot…..




in this picture we want the brown to stay on top so….. Take the white yarn and cross over the brown yarn to tie the overhand knot.

Keep the loop “open” and place it over the eye of the hook onto the hook shank, the strand of brown must be on the top. Then move this to the bend of the hook and pull the knot tight. Repeat this until you are at the point of the hook shank where the lead foil starts.

Now re-start your thread and tie in some brown flexibody. This will form the thorax cover. Take the thread off again and start to “weave” as before and up to then around the flexibody DO NOT cover the flexibody, you need this to stay upright and out of the way. Continue to “weave” towards the eye of the hook but stop short say 5-7mms from the eye.




Tie your thread back on and then tie in the loose ends of yarn and cut them off leaving no stubs left. At this point you can ties in your Golden Pheasant tail “legs” or dub on fibres to represent legs.

Now pull the flexibody thorax cover over towards the point at which you want to tie it down, ensure you have stretched it a bit as this will keep the finishing off a lot easier.

OK now tie off your thread and cut off.

[Old Smoothound]

Part 2 of Thread


This is the finished fly.




And these are variations on a theme.




And More......






I hope you enjoy tying them

[Simon TorbayFishing]

Awesome post!

[A fluff chucker]

Another great tying lesson with great photos.

A photo speaks a thousand words. Thanks Smoothy

[Fishing Forum Admin]

Great post shaun - the pictures are great and make it so much easier to follow and do

[Old Smoothound]

Thanks Guys,

Next is how to build a Scud Missile using stiff card and Origami methods

Just kidding.....What flies would the fluff chuckers amongst us like to see tied?

Any special requests?

[kiwimarty]

great post Shaun.

Kiwi.

[A fluff chucker]

Originally Posted by Old Smoothound

Thanks Guys,
Next is how to build a Scud Missile using stiff card and Origami methods

Just kidding.....What flies would the fluff chuckers amongst us like to see tied?

Any special requests?

Hi Shaun,

I think it could be of interest to members and definitely myself a 'sandeel' imitation fly or 'the best' BASS FLY you know or use.

Peeps make like to also see some 'Boobies'

[pingu]

awsome smoothy!!!!!!
you deserve another drink for that one
dave
ps :if i could ever make one of them i would not want to use it

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by A fluff chucker

Hi Shaun,

I think it could be of interest to members and definitely myself a 'sandeel' imitation fly or 'the best' BASS FLY you know or use.

Peeps make like to also see some 'Boobies'

I should have guessed "Boobies" I have a couple of pictures...but I don't think Form Admin would let me post them

But "Booby" flies would be next.

Sandeel pattern after that.............