Hank Roberts woven body nymph

[carlp5351 0]

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.

 

 

carlp

[CoachBob 0]

There's a golden stone here -- appears woven

http://www.gofishin.com/?&show_details=46936&cat=220

 

and a page of his other flies here

http://www.gofishin.com/index.cgi?fpage=product_search

 

and on several pages that follow the last.

[Futzer 0]

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.

[CM_Stewart 0]

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.

[carlp5351 0]

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.

 

 

carlp

[Bruce Derington 0]

here

[Alpinefly 0]

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) !!!!

[carlp5351 0]

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.

 

 

 

[Futzer 0]

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.

[carlp5351 0]

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.

 

 

carl

[Futzer 0]

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.

[carlp5351 0]

Just completed this one, like this one the best. Changed color on to top side.

 

 

 

[Arkansas Mike 0]

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.

 

 

Mike

[oldschool 0]

I am a fairly good flytier - how hard is it to learn to tye a woven pattern?

 

 

Tim

[rstout 0]

Tim,

 

Weaving is fairly simple once you get the steps down. There are all kinds of different weaves. Here is a sample. http://flyguysoutfitting.com/wovenpolishnymph.html

 

Try it, you'll like it.

Rob

 

 

 

I am a fairly good flytier - how hard is it to learn to tye a woven pattern?

 

 

Tim