Guest Report post Posted June 18, 2020 Not sure I oughta post this maybe in the beginners section. Back in the 60’s in Wiesbaden, Gr. I bought a Orvis Hellgramite at the American Rod-Gun Club and cut it apart to figure out how to weave the body. Been awhile and ain’t got the right stuff but gave it a try. Weave the black tubing or mono with the floss giving a shell like back and segmented underside. To stiff to get nice body look. There’s some fellas on here can do it heck of a lots better😏. Sorry for substandard stuff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2020 As they say, "Ugly flies catch fish, too." Just call 'em "Three-Mile-Island-grammites." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2020 Might try using half the floss so the two materials are closer to the same size. Rick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted June 19, 2020 Still struggling.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2020 I've watched the videos. Had hooks in the vise, ready to try weaving. Then decided against it. Keep up the practicing, sir, and I'm sure they'll look like you want, in no time! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2020 Nice stuff there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruce Derington 0 Report post Posted June 20, 2020 I agree, those will fish great. I’ve got some samples of woven flies, I’ll post when I get home Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philly 0 Report post Posted June 21, 2020 They taught us how to weave a stone fly pattern in fly tying class I took years ago. I think I did alright but it was too much work. I don't remember it we used floss or thread for it. You might try doing one with heavy thread till you get the motions down. I equate to doing a decorative wrap on rod. I agree with Bruce those will catch fish. Most hellgramite patterns are ugly anyway. If you ever find a live one. Don't pick it up. They bite. I just reread your post. Don't mix materials, denduke, either use all tubing or all floss. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cphubert 0 Report post Posted June 21, 2020 find a copy of The Master Weaver by George Grant covers many different fly body weaving techniques good book for instruction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted June 21, 2020 Al & Gretchen Beatty have a book out on Weaving. Also several methods in the Flytyers Benchside Reference. Rick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WWKimba 0 Report post Posted July 7, 2020 Hey call the first attempts the Twerking Hellgrammite! My style of fly tying is to watch the fish laughing at my flies and try to hook em at their weakest moment and I've been practicing for almost 50 years! I once hosted a swap called a Techniques Swap and woven bodies were one of the choices. You'll get it. Do try with good materials and your more than half way there - it does help. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DFoster 0 Report post Posted July 23, 2020 13 minutes or so in Oliver demonstrates some weaving. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted August 9, 2020 Here's a stonefly pattern called the Dronestone that I tied with a woven abdomen. Compare it with photos of a natural stonefly nymph. I use the shuttle weave. In the shuttle weave, the threads interlock as they cross, and there is no need to tie a knot for every thread crossing. So it is much faster. It is also easier especially as the flies get smaller. The shuttle weave using bobbins can be seen in this video by Aaron Jasper's. One key is to keep tension on the floss, and to pull away from you toward the woven areas so the next weave is tight against the previous. I use regular 6 strand embroidery floss I buy at Joannes or Michaels craft store. At about 3/$1 it is cheaper than fly tying floss. Unravel the floss into 2 or 3 strands depending on fly size and wind onto plastic sewing machine spools. Buy spools with rounded side edges sos they dons bite into your fingers as you apply tension,You will thank me later. Wind the floss onto the spools by using a portable drill. Place the eraser end of a sharpened pencil into the drill chuck. Force fit the plastic bobbin into the tapered end of the pencil end and wind away. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted August 10, 2020 Putting the floss, whatever on spools in bobbins nice tip! All the pics are on another post. Using big cord for the top makes better segments than floss top and bottom. The wire is craft wire mostly the tiny rib wire ain’t big enough for the sow bugs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WWKimba 0 Report post Posted August 28, 2020 When you get the bodies down - here are some directions on woven hackles (three styles) from my old site - http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/advanced/part3.php. Good luck and have fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites