FLYMPH FORUM

The Birds Nest is as effective today as when first fished in the Truckee River by the pattern's originator, Cal Bird, in 1959.



Birds Nest
Hook: Grip 13021BL #12 (or equivalent 2XL medium wire hook)
Thread: Benecchi 12/0, tobacco
Rib: Copper wire, bright
Tail: Lemon woodduck barbs
Abdomen: Australian possum
Hackle: Lemon woodduck barbs
Thorax: Australian possum - in split thread

Video here - please view in HD, if able:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvq3UUDCO7k

Cheers,
Hans W

Hans, Howdy;

That's a magnificent fly!

hank

Very nicely tied and a great demonstration of the different effect gained by the two different styles of dubbing with the same material.

Having never seen an original (apart from the photos you added elsewhere) and missing 1959 by an entire decade before emerging myself, most references I have seen in regard to this pattern have lead wraps under the body.
Do you know if this was an integral process of the original fly- or just a variation added by those that picked the pattern up afterward?

To me it is similar to a lot of Irish wet fly patterns in the way it is hackled, but the thorax in front is very different.

Nicely done Hans, like the idea of the scruffy thorax, with the split thread. This is one of those great all around patterns for just about any fish.

MIke

Mataura mayfly wrote:Having never seen an original (apart from the photos you added elsewhere) and missing 1959 by an entire decade before emerging myself, most references I have seen in regard to this pattern have lead wraps under the body.
Do you know if this was an integral process of the original fly- or just a variation added by those that picked the pattern up afterward?

Jeff,

I have no absolute answer, but I will ask my contact if any or all in the set of six originals are weighted.

Cheers,
Hans W

Jeff,

Answer just in: All six in the set are unweighted.

Cheers,
Hans W

It's easy to see why this pattern is still being used and discussed. I'll have to try some of these. Excellent video.

This is something I really waited and waited. Thanks for viewing. Very nice.

Hans - That fly is a mess! Great job!

letumgo wrote:Hans - That fly is a mess! Great job!

Mess? What mess???

Controlled Chaos, that is what it is!

Not convinced? Well, blame Cal if you need, not me. I am only the messenger...

Cheers,
Hans W