Big Nasty by Kevin Howell

[TheWhiteH4nd 0]

Hello all!

I've been trying to find a recipe or tying instructions for a fly called Big Nasty. I believe it was originally tied by Kevin Howell, but I can't find anything. When I try searching the internet I get lots of results for RIO fly lines (also called Big Nasty), but I can't find anything definitive for the fly. I'm not confident enough in my tying ability to try to reverse engineer it from a picture. Here's a picture of the fly. I'll also attach one as a file in case embedding it in the post doesn't work well. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[Limitless 0]

Good looking fly. I hope someone will have the "recipe". In the mean time I may order a few, and the dubbing.

 

https://www.davidsonflyfishing.com/store/flies/howells-big-nasty

 

https://www.davidsonflyfishing.com/store/fly-tying/big-nasty-dubbing

[Philly 0]

 

I found this image. From the looks of it the tail is marabou, the body is wrapped marabou. Thorax is dubbing, maybe rabbit. You could probably use a couple of extra wraps of the marabou for the thorax and pick it out. Wing case is probably turkey, legs and antennae, silicone legs. Unfortunately, no tying instructions.

[Bryon Anderson 0]

Here's my best guess, based on the picture:

 

Hook: 2XL-3LX nymph/streamer hook

Thread: 6/0 (140 denier), color to match body

Weight: .025-.030 lead (or lead-free) wire (thorax only)

Tail: marabou (possibly grizzly marabou)

Abdomen: nymph dubbing and palmered saddle hackle

Wing Case: Turkey Quill

Legs: rubber or silicone legs, tied "Madam X" style

Thorax: nymph dubbing

Antennae: rubber or silicone legs

 

Basically it looks to me like a large Hare's Ear Nymph, with a Woolly Bugger tail and saddle hackle and a couple of rubber legs and rubber antennae added on.

 

I would tie as follows:

 

1. Start thread.

2. 10-12 wraps of lead wire between the eye and the 1/3 mark on the hook shank; cover with thread wraps

3. wrap to bend; tie in tail

4. Tie in saddle hackle

5. dub abdomen

6. wrap saddle hackle

7. tie in wing case

8. tie in rubber legs

9. tie in antennae

10. dub thorax

11. tie down wing case

12. whip finish.

[spiralspey 0]

Looks pretty straight forward to me, just a bugger with a wing case and rubber legs added. Tail of marabou, coarse dubbed body, palmered hackle on abdomen (maybe add a wire counter rib), rubber legs and antenna, and a shell/wing back of what looks like turkey. Maybe some lead wire underneath for weight too if you like. You could probably sub for any of those materials and still have an effective fly since it's pretty impressionistic.

[TheWhiteH4nd 0]

Thank you all for the replies, especially Bryon Anderson. Your breakdown is much appreciated. I'll tie one up this weekend and try it in the Kennebec and let you know how it does.

[mikechell 0]

Welcome to the site. Take a picture of your attempt and post it in "April Flies from the Vise", please.

[Jaydub 0]

Here is the recipe from Fly Patterns by Randall and Mary Kaufmann

 

Big Nasty, Howell's

Hook: Mustad 79580 or TMC 9395, size 1 -8, weighted

Thread: Color to match body , 6/0

Underbody: Yarn to match body color

Tail: Grizzly marabou dyed to match

Rib: Black wire in brassie size

Gills: Emu feather to match body

Abdomen: Howell's Big Nasty dubbing

Wingcase: Turkey tail feather

Antennae: Fire Tip Sili Legs to match body

Thorax: Same as abdomen

Legs: Same as antennae

Note: Olive, black, or gray body

[TheWhiteH4nd 0]

Here is my first attempt at tying Howell's Big Nasty. I had to get creative with some material substitutions, but overall I don't think it's that bad. We'll see what the fish think later this week.

I'm not sure why the file isn't oriented properly, but I can't figure out how to fix it.

[flytire 0]

umm where is your first attempt

 

or is it all white

[TheWhiteH4nd 0]

There is a thumbnail attached. Is it not loading for you?

[fishinguy 0]

Working for me. Looks good. Tail and hackle maybe a bit long/big. But I'd certainly fish it.

[flytire 0]

There is a thumbnail attached. Is it not loading for you?

 

its there NOW but when i posted ar12:00 oclock it was blank

[TheWhiteH4nd 0]

 

There is a thumbnail attached. Is it not loading for you?

 

its there NOW but when i posted ar12:00 oclock it was blank

 

I wonder if I was in the process of editing it. I was having trouble figuring out how to attach the thumb. What are your thoughts? I've already heard some constructive criticism about the tail and hackle being too large. Other criticisms are welcome; I'm always looking to improve.

[Bimini15 0]

It has happened to me before that pictures do not show up at first, but are there later.