Floyd Franke, who passed away in 2013, had a remarkable fly-fishing resume: he co-founded the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild, was a board member of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum, served five years as president of the Casting Board of Governors of the International Federation of Fly Fishers, and was an instructor at the Wulff School of Fly Fishing from 1989 to 2006, where he held the title of Chief Instructor for three years. One of his most enduring patterns is this colorful, elegant shiner imitation.
In this great video from Tightline Productions, Tim Flagler shows you how he ties the Franke Shiner, using a rotary vise and lots of cement and glue. Don’t worry if you don’t have a rotary vise; you can still tie this pattern, although it may take you a bit longer. The way Tim creates the eyes is mesmerizing, and the results are impressive.
Franke Shiner
Hook: 6X- to 8X-long streamer hook (here a Mustad 3665A), sizes 4-10.
Underbody: White Uni-Stretch.
Overbody: Opal Mirage Tinsel, large.
Adhesive #1: Clear Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
Thread: Olive, 6/0 or 140-denier.
Belly: White bucktail, cleaned and stacked.
Throat: Silver Doctor blue saddle-hackle fibers.
Underwing: Light olive bucktail, cleaned and stacked.
Flash: 6 strands of Olive Krystal Flash.
Adhesive #2: Superglue (here, Fly Tyer’s Z-Ment).
Overwing: Olive brown bucktail, cleaned and stacked.
Adhesive #3: Clear Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
Eyes: Yellow and black nail polish.
Adhesive #3: Clear Sally Hansen Hard as Nails.
Credit: Source link
