Anyone Else Tie the Water Walker Style Fly?

[Byron haugh]

This old style fly has a couple great things going for it:

1. Always lands correctly; and
2. The hackle is off to the sides (sort of more like the insect)

[Hans Weilenmann]

Byron,

Nicely tied.

I like the look of the Water Walker style of fly, and tie the odd one in Terry's memory, but by and large I think they are a solution looking for a problem.

Cheers,
Hans W

[Byron haugh]

Here's a little article about the fly written by Al and Gretchen Beatty:

http://www.flytyer.com/index.php?opt...1486&Itemid=90

[Hans Weilenmann]

Byron, thanks for that link. I somehow got the Water Walker linked to Terry Hellekson, but it would appear my memory has played tricks on me. The article by Al and Gretchen, and they should know, ties the pattern to Frank Johnson.

Cheers,
Hans W

[Byron haugh]

Hans,
Terry Hellekson, in his book "Popular Fly Patterns" written in 1976, includes the Water Walker style fly and also credits it to Frank Johnson, whom he refers to as "Mr. Waterwalker". I believe Johnson originally used the double hackle method on his extended body flies.
It is just one of hundreds of patterns discussed in his fine book.

[JohnScott]

I've watched Harley Reno from the Idaho Falls area tie the Water Walker several times. I always got a headache watching him. But they are a neat fly, and Harley wouldn't bother with them if they didn't catch the trouts.

Nicely done, Bryon. If you want to send some along I'll do some field testing ASAP.

John