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Group: Members
Posts: 243
Joined: 28-January 06
From: Lakewood, Co
Member No.: 4259
I need the old timers help. I have googled this with no luck. There is a fly pattern I'm looking for. This is a real effective pattern for the Lake City area, just south of Gunnison CO. I'm looking for a woven body nymph designed by Hank Roberts.
Ritt's Fighting Crayfish by Al Ritt
In all likelihood, the debate began soon after the creation of the second fly. It’s human nature to make lists, and we rank everything from influential world leaders to sports bloopers. What makes rankings debatable, and interesting, is that we all have our own criteria and opinions. Fly fishermen click here to read more
A Bug's Life by Will Milne
As the light slowly fades, a lone Mayfly appears on the surface of a large Canadian lake, signaling the beginning of annual event that has taken place for millennia. The emergence of aquatic macroinvertebrates from their immature nymph or larval phase to the airborne adult stage marks the midpoi click here to read more
Group: Members
Posts: 1698
Joined: 10-September 08
From: Park City, UT
Member No.: 16961
Hi Carl, Hank Roberts used an overhand weave or a Pott's weave on his nymphs. Those two techniques are demonstrated in The Flytier's benchside reference. And down Gunnison way, black stone flies are some of my favorites. Mostly in that area I have fished the Black Canyon.
Cheers, Futzer.
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Tie a man a fly and you give him fresh air, some exercise and a lot of fun. Teach a man to tie flies and eventually it takes over all free time, a room in his house and several thousand of his dollars.
Group: Members
Posts: 85
Joined: 1-August 06
From: NYC
Member No.: 6147
When I lived in Colorado (long enough ago to qualify as an Old Timer), I used to buy his woven nymphs. I still have two (or I should say, I have two woven nymphs I think are his, as I don't remember ever buying any other woven nymphs). The weaving is the same as shown on this tutorial (the fly pattern is different, but the weaving is the same) http://flyguysoutfitting.com/wovenpolishnymph.html. Of the two nymphs I have, one is kind of a mahogany colored back and a cream belly, and the other has a brown back and tan belly. It looks like they are woven from rayon floss. On both, the thorax is longer than you would expect, probably 2/3 of the shank length, and is built up quite a bit compared to the rear 1/3 of the fly. Both have a tail of ginger hackle barbs and a fairly closely clipped ginger hackle the rear 1/3 of the fly to form gills. Both also have what looks like a couple turns of grizzly hackle, very closely clipped on top, just behind the head.
I did catch a bunch of fish on his nymphs, but then I moved away from Colorado, discovered gold ribbed hare's ears, and then beadheads, and stopped fishing his flies, which is the only reason I have them.
Group: Members
Posts: 243
Joined: 28-January 06
From: Lakewood, Co
Member No.: 4259
QUOTE (CM_Stewart @ Aug 4 2009, 06:29 PM)
When I lived in Colorado (long enough ago to qualify as an Old Timer), I used to buy his woven nymphs. I still have two (or I should say, I have two woven nymphs I think are his, as I don't remember ever buying any other woven nymphs)
Is there any way I can talk you into taking a couple of pictures of those flies. I want to thank everyone for all of there responses.
Group: Members
Posts: 110
Joined: 23-December 08
From: Tucson, Arizona USA
Member No.: 18775
48968_Hank_Roberts_Natural_Helgramite.jpg ( 9.65K )
Number of downloads: 15 Here is a Hank Roberts natural Helgramite !!! Brings back good memories. My Great Uncle Homer Pennock & Hank were good fishing buddies (and well known around Boulder , Colorado in the fly fishing circles) Both my uncle & Hank lived on Walnut. Grew up around both and fly fishing the front range around Boulder as a little boy !!!! Good Gosh Hank's weaved flies & even his spun Deer hair patterns (how many of Hanks Deer Hopper patterns I fished) were always a work of art (and deadly on the water too; Not too many patterns ya could hook a wiley & finnecky Greenback Cutthroat with; especially on Lefthand Creek and that beaver pool I started on). I kept in touch with him some even after he moved to Lake City & I was living in Alamosa. The last time I had talked to him, he showed me a nymph/streamer leader he had invented (talk about superior !!!). After I got into Grad School in Greeley then moved to Arizona, I lost touch, then heard he had died. I still use a lot of his style in some of my patterns. It was nice to know such a great person when you are a little tyke just starting out, and I have been blessed to be friends with many other greats that have taken me under their wing. Thanks for bringing back a nice memory !!! Hank was a legend (still is) and will always be in my mind. Wish I had all those flies I had as a kid (even along with those classic Bergman wets); fished them all. Frankly, I wish I had all his recipes; only have memory of a few of his techniques to tying) You never know as a kid you have legend in your hands. That is why, what patterns I have of some of the many greats I know, I hold on to (don't fish them.....no way) !!!!
Group: Members
Posts: 243
Joined: 28-January 06
From: Lakewood, Co
Member No.: 4259
Here is an update, with the help of some of the forum members and the help of one of my local fly shop owners. I have found Hank Roberts woven body nymph. Here are some pic's. I'm still not very happy with the heads on these flies. The pattern is coming around. Picture_012.jpg ( 548.07K )
Number of downloads: 28 Picture_013.jpg ( 544.95K )
Number of downloads: 34
Group: Members
Posts: 1698
Joined: 10-September 08
From: Park City, UT
Member No.: 16961
The weave is very good Carl. What size and type of tying thread are you using. It looks like UTC 140 denier from the photo, try a smaller diameter like UTC 70 denier or Uni 8/0. That will gain you more wraps for the same space, and help cover the head whiskers up.
Cheers, Futzer.
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Tie a man a fly and you give him fresh air, some exercise and a lot of fun. Teach a man to tie flies and eventually it takes over all free time, a room in his house and several thousand of his dollars.
Group: Members
Posts: 243
Joined: 28-January 06
From: Lakewood, Co
Member No.: 4259
QUOTE (Futzer @ Aug 16 2009, 11:15 AM)
The weave is very good Carl. What size and type of tying thread are you using. It looks like UTC 140 denier from the photo, try a smaller diameter like UTC 70 denier or Uni 8/0. That will gain you more wraps for the same space, and help cover the head whiskers up.
Cheers, Futzer.
Futzer,
I'm using Danville 6/0 thread, I very rarely using anything bigger.
Group: Members
Posts: 1698
Joined: 10-September 08
From: Park City, UT
Member No.: 16961
Try some 8/0, I think you will like it, the 6/0 danville is fine and I am sure after you have tied a few more you will be satisfied.
Cheers, Jeff.
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Tie a man a fly and you give him fresh air, some exercise and a lot of fun. Teach a man to tie flies and eventually it takes over all free time, a room in his house and several thousand of his dollars.
Group: Members
Posts: 243
Joined: 28-January 06
From: Lakewood, Co
Member No.: 4259
Just completed this one, like this one the best. Changed color on to top side. Picture_019.jpg ( 325.4K )
Number of downloads: 24 Picture_021.jpg ( 339.81K )
Number of downloads: 24
Group: Members
Posts: 1208
Joined: 1-June 09
From: Arkansas
Member No.: 21863
I love the look of woven body flies. I really like this last one, Carl. Don't know if you're interested, but as Jeff mentioned The Flytier's Benchside Reference has detailed step-by-step instructions on how to tie 10 or more weaves, including the Pott's weave. Potts used horsehair.
I am a fairly good flytier - how hard is it to learn to tye a woven pattern?
Tim
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Somebody just back of you while you are flyfishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your girl. Ernest Hemingway
Hatches is an annual publication with a strong devotion to professional writing, beautiful photography and informative articles pertaining to both the artistic and practical aspects of fly tying. Each issue features 13 featured articles that span a massive 96 pages.
I agree with the feedback you have received about Hatches. This is by far the best magazine I have seen that shares the wealth of knowledge without the additional 30 pages of vendor advertisements. I understand they are needed revenue but it is refreshing to see the quality of your articles etc. without having to thumb through all of the ads. I also take three other periodicals that are OK but no where nearly as good as Hatches. I wish you continued success and would like the opportunity to have 3 year subscriptions some time. Thanks again for all of your hard work and excellent presentation in Hatches. Best of luck, I wish you a long life and can't wait until you are recognized as the number one periodical presenting fly fishing knowledge.
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