Jim Warner Swap

One of the founding fathers of streamer fly development

By Ken Craigue, Jr.

Jim Warner brought to the Lake's Region, particularly "Winni" the "Big Lake" an original direction to creating streamers with innovative materials like marabou, beads, and mylar before most folks knew it existed. He developed a style of tying down a single marabou plume that had an action and sleek look that just drove salmon to practically jump on the hook. If mastery at the bench weren't enough, Jim knew the lake, those around it, and the rivers because he fished them. He could tell you where to go, what to use, and you would probably catch fish. Today, Jim doesn't fish the Winnipesaukee, but he can look out on Melvin Bay without too much trouble and recall decades of fishing at the foot of the White Mountains.

My first fly tying kit came from Jim's shop and I was immediately hooked. Jim would provide encouragement in those early years that would find me passing the craft to my son decades later. I had to wonder in that Fall of 2010 just how many lives Jim has touched with his love of streamer flies. He has taught in schools, summer camps, and as a Master Craftsman for the NH Arts Council. It was easy to come up with the idea of a swap in Jim's honor because of his selfless contributions to our sport. We were privileged to have him join us tying his favorite the "Wolfeboro Bay Special." Thank you Jim!

Ken Craigue, Jr.
November 2011

Photos by Bob Petti, copyright 2011 Global Fly Fisher

Babb's Ghost tied by John Bonasera
	Tag: Flat Silver Tinsel Body: Black Floss Rib: Flat Silver Tinsel Belly: White Bucktail Inside Wing: Yellow over Red over Blue Bucktail, over Peacock Hearl Outside Wing: Gray Saddle Shoulder: Silver Pheasant Cheeks: Jungle Cock (optional)

Bicentennial Smelt tied by Alan Grombacher
	Body: Flat Copper Tinsel Wing: Mixed red, white, and blue bucktail over which are four blue dun saddle hackles. Throat: Long white marabou fibers extending to the bend of the hook Cheeks: Jungle Cock

Gray Winni Smelt tied by Ray Porzio

Tail: Golden Pheasant Crest curving upwards Body: Silver mylar piping, leaving the frayed end and tied with white thread then lacquered. Throat: A very small bunch of GP fiber Wing: A very sparse bunch of white bucktail, followed by two peacock herls, then a sparse bunch of light gray marabou, then topped with a scant mix of olive and gray fluorofiber (25-75%) and mixed as well as possible. Head: BLack w/ small silver stick-on eyes.

Guide Special tied by Dave Wood
	Body: Flat Silver Tinsel Rib: Oval Silver Tinsel Belly: Blue Bucktail Wing: Yellow hackle over sparse red bucktail Head: Yellow w/ painted eyes

Jim Warner Special tied by Catskill Don Soar
	Tail: Yellow Floss Body: Flat Silver Tinsel Rib: Oval Silver Tinsel Wing: Gizzly hackle dyed olive over sparse yellow bucktail Throat: Red Hackle Cheek: Jungle Cock (optional)

JW Smelt tied by Chris Del Plato
	Tail: Red marabou cut short Body: Flat Silver Tinsel Wing: Sparse red bucktail under sparse white bucktail under silver badger hackle Throat: Sparse white marabou Cheeks: Jungle Cock (optional)

Melvin Bay Special tied by Ken Craigue, Jr.
	Body: Gold Embossed Tinsel Rib: Flat Silver Tinsel Wing: Sparse yellow bucktail under sparse red bucktail under a full gray marabou plume Topping: Silver Pheasant Crest Throat: Red Hackle Head: Black with painted eyes, pearl with black pupil

Red Fin Shiner tied by Barry Phillips
	Body: Flat Silver Tinsel, hot orange hackle fibgers 1/3 from the bend of the hook Throat: Hot orange hackle fibers Wing: An underwing of sparse white bucktail, topped with peacock herl over which are four olive saddle hackles Shoulder: Lemon Woodduck Cheeks: Jungle Cock

Ten Feather Emerald Shiner tied by Chris Del Plato
	Body: Silver tinsel, double wrapped Wing: Sparse white bucktail, then three white hackles, 1 dun hackle, 2 blue dun hackles, 2 natural grizzly hackles, 2 olive green hackles, tied flat on top of hook. Eyes: Pearlescent with black pupil

Winnesquam Smelt tied by Gary Fraser

Body: Flat Silver Tinsel, double wrapped Wing: First layer sparse white bucktail, second layer 3 or 4 thin strands of peacock herl, third layer sparse light blue bucktail, fourth layer a single white marabou plume tied in flat as long as the bucktail, top layer 2 or 3 natural black silver pheasant crest feathers curving down over the wing and nearly the same length if possible. A few back ostrich herls may be substituted. Head: Pearlescent lacquer with black pupil.

Winni Smelt tied by Scott Bernard

Body: Flat Silver Tinsel, double wrapped Wing: First layer sparse white bucktail, second layer 3 or 4 thin strands of peacock herl, third layer sparse orchid bucktail, fourth layer a single white marabou plume tied in flat as long as the bucktail, top layer 2 or 3 natural black silver pheasant crest feathers curving down over the wing and nearly the same length if possible. A few back ostrich herls may be substituted. Head: Pearlescent lacquer with black pupil.

Wolfeboro Bay tied by Jim Warner
	Body: Oval Silver Tinsel Rib: Flat Silver Tinsel Wing: Sparse yellow bucktail over which sparse red bucktail over which soft, flexible white marabou plume, over which 2-3 natural black silver pheasant crests (or black ostrich). Eyes: Built up w/ pearlescent lacquer to give bulging look, with black pupils.

Yellow Marabou Special tied by Bob Petti
	Body: Flat Silver Tinsel Rib: Oval Silver Tinsel Throat: Red Hackle Wing: Sparse white bucktail under sparse red bucktail under a full yellow marabou plume Topping: Silver Pheasant Crest Eyes: Painted pearl w/ black pupil