Birds Nest - tied by Hans Weilenmann 

Nice tie Hans. I knew Cal when I worked for Orvis in San Francisco. He always came to the Orvis booth to tie flies at the San Mateo Show each year back in the 80's and 90's. What a congenial man he was! I always enjoyed watching him tie because 3 out of 4 times it would look like his tie was not going to turn out and yet it ALWAYS turned out just perfect. As I watched you tie this on your video, you carried the body farther forward than Cal would and the head was too short, but in the finished fly the proportions appear right on. Cal never used actual woodduck on that because it was expensive here and often hard to get. So he got some mallard and dyed it woodduck. Then he got some more mallard flank feathers and died them "maple sugar". That's the color he dyed for his standard Bird's Nest. One year when he came to the San Mateo show he brought teal flank feathers dyed maple sugar instead and tied with those. I asked him why and he said " because they have much more distinct barring than mallard flank feathers. They look more like woodduck." I had a bunch of teal feathers so I got some maple sugar dye and used those. Then a fellow in the bay area was licensed by Cal to produce the feathers and dubbing in Cal's approved colors. Also included instructions on how to tie a Bird's Nest in the packs of them. I started carrying those at the Orvis San Francisco store, so I didn't have to bother with dying them anymore. Cal tied it a little differently than you did although results were almost identical. On the wing, using Mallard or Teal flank feathers, he would snip out the tip of the feather to use as the tail and then fold the feather in half. Mallard flank feathers are not as uniform as real Woodduck and often have a bit of a point to the feather. By snipping the quill of the feather down low enough to use as a tail, most of the feathers on each side would turn out even or close to even. He then tied the feather in with what he called a "distribution wrap. He'd do that by folding the fibers of the feather in on each side to meet with the dull sides together. Then he'd put attach the waist hackle fibers by standing the doubled wing up with the first fibers just on the near side of the wing; trap the fibers with the thread; and then wind the thread around the hook as the thread pulled the fibers around. Then he'd take on more wrap with the thread and let the thread hang while he inspected it. He would usually tease the fibers around as he wrapped the thread and it would always come out great. He could take his bodkin and tease the fibers around a bit afterwards if needed, but he tied so many of these over the year that it usually was nicely distributed on the first try. Then, if the winging hackle was too long, he'd just pull it the feather to shorten it and then take 2 or 3 tied wraps to keep it all in place. Cal may not have always used a dubbing tool, but he invented a great one, which seems to have disappeared from the marketplace. It had a sort of traingular-shaped head. He would use it to both spin and wrap the dubbing with the same tool. You would hook the loop; put in the dubbing; then pull the loop tight and spin it with your fingertips. Then, once you had a good tight noodle or rope, you would move the handle of the tool up while keeping tension on it and the spun loop would slide to the next corner of the triangle. Then you could wrap it easily with that corner of the triangle shape and tie it off. It was about 7" long or so with a bendable neck above the handle that allowed you to keep light tension on the loop you were wrapping. The long handle made it easy to get in to the tail position to start your wraps and just keep wrapping until you've reached your tie-off position. Also worked great for spinning and wrapping a peacock herl rope. He'd use it on both sections for size 14 and larger flies. For #16 he'd only use it on the head. The only criticism I'd have or the results of your tying is that he didn't make that distribution-wrap wing as dense as your tie is - a minor point to be sure. I've used that fly all over California, Oregon Washington, Montana and also on the east coast in Vermont, Massachusetts, New York , Virginia and West Virginia. It catches trout everywhere. Olive and tan (maple sugar) are productive anywhere you find olive or tan nymphs of the same size. Black and Brown ones where you find either black or brown nymphs. Not identical of anything but suggestive of a wide variety of mayflies and caddis, it's a go-to fly that you can tie quickly.

Sean, The/my aim is not to tie a fly with the minimum number of turns of thread, but it is all about making each turn serve a purpose. No purpose, no turn. It is that simple ;-) Best of success on your journey. Cheers, Hans W

Very nice, Hans. I need to tie some of these.

This has been my “go to” fly since the early 90’s. It has been my most productive fly pattern. An angler should not be without this pattern in their box. I suggest tying this pattern on a light wire hook as I have fished it as a nymph, wet, and dry fly depending on conditions and time of year. My favorite colors are Adams gray and ginger. Tight lines.

Well done again Hans, I live walking distance to the Truckee and still fish the birds Nest. I like to use a heavily weighted nymph with the birds Nest tied to the bend of the nymph on 12" -16" of tippet with the last 6"greased with mucillin. I also have good luck with a version subbing dark fur from a hares ear mixed with coyote and lower back feathers from a Ringneck Pheasant for the wood duck.Thanks for another great video. Steve

A real classic. It has been a long time since tying the Birds Nest; thank you for the reminder and wonderful job.

Great looking fly. I love the messier flies. They work great and don't have to look perfect to the tier.

A great lake fly suggestive of the Callibaetis nymphs that are hatching now in the southern Rockies. Thanks for tying this one, Hans.

One of the best flies of all time! Great tie, Hans .I use these a lot. Add a little crystal flash in the wing if you feel the need.

I love the sparse use of thread in your tying. I can never get everything together enough to use so few turns of thread. But in my defense I have only been tying a few months. Since Feb. 2013. All the best, Sean

Hans, beautifully tied, a great fly by Bird.

Excellent tie, I will try this one and the Triple Threat caddis for wet nymphs/ flymphs. I will try the Rough Water caddis dry. Thanks for the videos. After tying for 50 years, I can still pick up a few good patterns and ideas from others! I suspect the Brookies, browns, rainbows and even sea run Browns we have here in Newfoundland will eat em up!

Hi Andrea - a very fine pattern Al Bird bequeathed to us. Cheers, Hans

Another good one Hans! I love using the Benecchi thread as well.

A classic tie. Thank you!

Nice tying Hans !!

Superb fly Hans. Extremely well tied and well explained too. Many thanks.

Super!

Nice

Hi Hans, great instructional video! I don't want to be "that guy", but can you tell me the exact blend of Australian Possum you're using?

Some feel the Bird's Nest imitates a caddis pupa. If so, has anyone thought of using d-ribbing for the body? D-ribbing will add shine and reflection, and possibly imitate the reflections of air bubbles. Also, why is opossum so different than rabbit?

$$$$ tie and one helluva producer. No reason to make the fishing tough. Tie on a birds nest.