Post by sewinangler on Apr 19, 2009 12:16:32 GMT
Just a quick SBS on a reliable, well known combination of colours and materials for a seatrout pattern on a waddington shank, the Squirrel, Blue and Silver.
Dressing:
Hook: Waddington Shank and a suitably sized treble (here an inch and a half with a size 8 treble)
Joint: Heatshrink tubing
Tying Silk: Red 6/0
Body: Silver mylar tubing
Throat: Squirrel Tail dyed Blue
Sparkle: Few strands of Flashabou
Overwing: Natural Grey Squirrel Tail
Cheecks: JC (but optional)
Head: Clear varnish over red tying silk.
Before I start, waddingtons are available in a number of sizes and a variety of guages. The largest and heaviest are suitable for fast, heavy water and the smallest and lightest, well, perhaps a single hook will accomplish the same
Anyway, there are a variety of ways to tie a waddington and this is just one method. The shank is basically a doubled strand of metal with eyes at both ends. The end where you attach the hook has a small gap to facilitate attaching the hook. The front end is often turned up and is slightly smaller to simulate a hook eye as you'd find on a typical salmon hook.
Anyway, in the image above, you can just see the gap in the shank to attach the hook. Sometimes, you can easily slip a hook onto this and slide the hook into the eye. Other times, you might have to use a pliers to widen the gap slightly. Be careful, sometimes the shanks are brittle and all you'll achieve is a broken waddington shank.
Here's what a combined hook and shank looks like without any dressing.
To start, mount the shank in the vice as shown above.
Take your silver mylar tube and measure an amount that is slightly shorter than the shank. Remove the central core and slip it over the eye and push it down the shank.
Take your tying silk and catch in with one or two wraps, just in front of the gap in the shank. Ensure plenty of pressure is applied to the silk. Whip finish and cut off the silk.
Reattach the tying silk just behing the shanks' eye and before applying more pressure on the tying silk, force the mylar forward so that it flattens against the waddington shank. Whip finish. At this point we can coat the shank with varnish or waterproof superglue to make it more resilient.
Next, take a small length of shrink tubing (it can be obtained from most coarse fishing tackle shops). Ensure it extends past the treble eye and also past the gap in the shank.
Using a flame, gently heat the shrink tubing until it contracts to it's fullest extent.The purpose being to prevent the hook from possibly sliding off during a fight and also to keep the treble aligned with the waddington shank.
Remount the shank into the vice with the eye pointing downwards. Take a smallbunch of dyed blue squirrel tail, measure for length (the tips should just reach the hook points more or less) trim and tie in.
To keep the head small, as opposed to tying locking turns, after taking one or two wraps of tying silk to position the hair, coat with varnish or waterproof super glue.
Rotate your vice or just remove the shank and place it back in the vice the other way up (eye facing upwards) and add a couple of strands of flashabou.
Next take a smallbunch of natural grey squirrel tail (usually equal in amount to the other part of the wing or sometimes slightly more) and once again, to keep the head small, as opposed to tying locking turns, after taking one or two wraps of tying silk to position the hair, coat with varnish or waterproof super glue.
Add a pair of JC nails as the cheeks (optional)
Form your head, whip finish and varnish. Your finished fly.
There are a variety of ways of tying a waddington and this is just one. By varying the dressing, you can tie any combination you want. As I tie different patterns up, I'll post a few more SBS's.
Enjoy
Dressing:
Hook: Waddington Shank and a suitably sized treble (here an inch and a half with a size 8 treble)
Joint: Heatshrink tubing
Tying Silk: Red 6/0
Body: Silver mylar tubing
Throat: Squirrel Tail dyed Blue
Sparkle: Few strands of Flashabou
Overwing: Natural Grey Squirrel Tail
Cheecks: JC (but optional)
Head: Clear varnish over red tying silk.
Before I start, waddingtons are available in a number of sizes and a variety of guages. The largest and heaviest are suitable for fast, heavy water and the smallest and lightest, well, perhaps a single hook will accomplish the same
Anyway, there are a variety of ways to tie a waddington and this is just one method. The shank is basically a doubled strand of metal with eyes at both ends. The end where you attach the hook has a small gap to facilitate attaching the hook. The front end is often turned up and is slightly smaller to simulate a hook eye as you'd find on a typical salmon hook.
Anyway, in the image above, you can just see the gap in the shank to attach the hook. Sometimes, you can easily slip a hook onto this and slide the hook into the eye. Other times, you might have to use a pliers to widen the gap slightly. Be careful, sometimes the shanks are brittle and all you'll achieve is a broken waddington shank.
Here's what a combined hook and shank looks like without any dressing.
To start, mount the shank in the vice as shown above.
Take your silver mylar tube and measure an amount that is slightly shorter than the shank. Remove the central core and slip it over the eye and push it down the shank.
Take your tying silk and catch in with one or two wraps, just in front of the gap in the shank. Ensure plenty of pressure is applied to the silk. Whip finish and cut off the silk.
Reattach the tying silk just behing the shanks' eye and before applying more pressure on the tying silk, force the mylar forward so that it flattens against the waddington shank. Whip finish. At this point we can coat the shank with varnish or waterproof superglue to make it more resilient.
Next, take a small length of shrink tubing (it can be obtained from most coarse fishing tackle shops). Ensure it extends past the treble eye and also past the gap in the shank.
Using a flame, gently heat the shrink tubing until it contracts to it's fullest extent.The purpose being to prevent the hook from possibly sliding off during a fight and also to keep the treble aligned with the waddington shank.
Remount the shank into the vice with the eye pointing downwards. Take a smallbunch of dyed blue squirrel tail, measure for length (the tips should just reach the hook points more or less) trim and tie in.
To keep the head small, as opposed to tying locking turns, after taking one or two wraps of tying silk to position the hair, coat with varnish or waterproof super glue.
Rotate your vice or just remove the shank and place it back in the vice the other way up (eye facing upwards) and add a couple of strands of flashabou.
Next take a smallbunch of natural grey squirrel tail (usually equal in amount to the other part of the wing or sometimes slightly more) and once again, to keep the head small, as opposed to tying locking turns, after taking one or two wraps of tying silk to position the hair, coat with varnish or waterproof super glue.
Add a pair of JC nails as the cheeks (optional)
Form your head, whip finish and varnish. Your finished fly.
There are a variety of ways of tying a waddington and this is just one. By varying the dressing, you can tie any combination you want. As I tie different patterns up, I'll post a few more SBS's.
Enjoy
