video - Birds Nest

[Hans Weilenmann]

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

[Byron haugh]

Nice Hans!
There must be other variations? I take it that is the original?

[Hans Weilenmann]

Byron,

I patterned the fly in the video on some originals - tied with Australian possum and lemon woodduck. This is the best known version.



However, Cal also tied the pattern using other feathers and dubbing. I do not know for certain, but to me it looks like it may be muskrat and English grouse.





Cheers,
Hans W

[Byron haugh]

Thanks Hans. Here is one on FAOL:
Apparently a Skip Morris version

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...011501fotw.php

[whatfly]

A very nice treatment of a modern classic. A deadly pattern. Shop versions (still a very popular pattern in Northern CA) have a tendency to be over-dressed in my opinion, and Hans did a good job keeping the profile slim. I tend not to use a split-thread/dubbing loop method for the head, however, because I find more modestly dubbed versions of this fly to be more effective. From the photos, it does not look like Cal did either, but it is a common modification often seen in shop flies.

[Hans Weilenmann]

I tend not to use a split-thread/dubbing loop method for the head, however, because I find more modestly dubbed versions of this fly to be more effective. From the photos, it does not look like Cal did either, but it is a common modification often seen in shop flies.

The advantage I find with the split thread I can create volume without the bulk. To get the same look by traditional dubbing, and then brushing out, a lot more dubbing would be used. In the water the fly as shown will be much sleeker than it looks in dry state.

Cheers,
Hans W

[okflyfisher]

The b nest is one of my staple flies on my trout waters. It works well for our tan caddis or the bigger( sz 14-12) crawler mayflies. I tie the fly a little sparser because much of our water tends to be on the slow side

[Byron haugh]

I wonder if a shuck material might be better than a "tail" of barbules?

[Uncle Jesse]

I wonder if a shuck material might be better than a "tail" of barbules?

There is only one way to truly know the answer to that question. Ask the fish.