[Guest]

Made some shanks last night twisted from stainless safety wire (super strong). These cost me about 4 cents to build and less than 60 seconds each.

 

[garthman]

they look like they'd do the trick nicely. how did you twist them up? just two pairs of pliers, or something more elegant ?

 

[Guest]

Twisted with pliers and used a short piece in the loop eye to grab on to this will avoid damage that could cut the leader. Set it in a vise and cut the end clean when finished.

 

[Mike Lee]

Forgive my ignorance, but what are these used for? trailing hooks?

Thanks,

Mike

 

[Mumbles]

Mr. Dee, those look nice. I bet you could spin some up in different materials for different sink rates.

Mike, shanks are commonly used to tie the body of flies that use stinger hooks or are "articulated flies" such that the overall lengh is longer and the business end is near the rear of the fly. Check out the gallery of fly swaps for articulated swaps like these:
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/g18574-2009-articulated-madness-swap.html
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/g18533-2009-winter-steelhead-swap-i.html
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/g18340-2007-intruder-swap.html

 

[flybill]

I prefer Wadington's... shanks are used in prison, or so I hear! :clown:

 

[Mike Lee]

Mr. Dee, those look nice. I bet you could spin some up in different materials for different sink rates.

Mike, shanks are commonly used to tie the body of flies that use stinger hooks or are "articulated flies" such that the overall lengh is longer and the business end is near the rear of the fly. Check out the gallery of fly swaps for articulated swaps like these:
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/g18574-2009-articulated-madness-swap.html
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/g18533-2009-winter-steelhead-swap-i.html
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/g18340-2007-intruder-swap.html

Thanks Ed!

I prefer Wadington's... shanks are used in prison, or so I hear! :clown:

I thought The toothbrush blade was more popular.

 

[tkww]

Twisted with pliers and used a short piece in the loop eye to grab on to this will avoid damage that could cut the leader. Set it in a vise and cut the end clean when finished.

Could you give a more detailed description? Do you start with a strip, fold it over the loop/eye-piece, bring the two ends together, and start twisting? Does the wire stay together well enough, or do you coat it with anything?

You cut the end clean off at the length you want it, or do you do that after you've tied the fly? And how do you tie the flie just on the shank--just run it into the vice so it sticks out like a regular hook shank? And does the cut-off spot stay sharp, or chafe against the stinger line?

If anybody is willing to share some insight/tips it would be much appreciated. I'm wanting to try some of this tying this fall. I've cut off regular hooks at the bend before, but the waddington/shank style appeals to me and I'd like to learn more.

 

[Guest]

I just cut the safety wire long and fold it in half, then a short piece about 2 inches long. Place the long doubled piece in a vise and the short wire through the end (eye). Fold the short piece and grab it with vise grips, start twisting. Once the shank is spun tight and you now have a small eye it will be time to cut the shank to desired length. After that the rest is up to you, flies or prison shanks. I am using them for sculpinators and intruders.

 

[Mumbles]

Nice beer...and fly.

 

[Guest]

Thanks Mumbles- I am on this Sculpin kick since our last meeting. I like the way they wag and swim in the water, coupled with a fast retrieve after the hangdown should trigger the predator instinct.

 

[Mumbles]

You catch anything on the jumbo sculpin we swapped?

 

[Guest]

Yup some big Dollies...... Just wait until Steelhead season it will pay off again.

 

[Mumbles]

Like to hear when my flies get folks into fish.

 

[brownheron]

Stewart-

How about bending the wire into flattened circle such that the cut ends meet in the center? You might be able to pinch the spot where they meet in your tying vise then twist each end. That way you'd come out with a small loop at each end similar to a Waddington shank.

I bought a schittload of Waddington's last season or I'd be experimenting with this too. Looks very promising.

T.

 

[Guest]

sure it would be easy to reverse the twist, we did it and found just a single eye-loop fits our needs.

 

[tkww]

SD, thanks for the description/info. I've found a couple of 12" strips of SS wire that I'm going to experiment with, and if that goes well I'll find a source for a bit more quantity.

 

[Mumbles]

Stewart Dee, why not twist some up and then make them "blind" shanks by turning them around, putting your articuated hook attachment to the loop and adding one of those blind eye hook loops up front? Come on, tie me up a few of those and I'll try them out for you.

 

[Ernie Adams]

Thanks. I will certainly try this. Did you upturn the eyes at all?

Go Sox,
cds

 

[Guest]

I did turn them up on a few. The Seahawks need a better QB!