Ken
Schramm
Michigan
I
was born 7/15/59, the same day Trout Unlimited was founded. My fly fishing
career began about '81, and I've been fly tying for eight years now. Most
of my fishing is done in northern Michigan. I live in Troy,
Michigan.
I've spent some time trying to learn the patterns of the many tiers profiled in
a wonderful book edited by John Roberts; "The World's Best
Trout Flies." Noted tiers and anglers from around the world list
their six favorite flies and how to tie and fish them. It includes
contributions by Whitlock, Hans van Klinken, Rene Harrop, Roman Moser, Torrill
Kolbu, Hans Weilenmann and many other extraordinary tiers. I have adopted
techniques and design strategies from many of these tiers, as well as LaFontaine
and Borger, in my own efforts.
Select One of Ken's Flies:
KDS Peppermint Shrimp
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Ken Schramm
Thread:
Olive 6/0. Tails:
Light olive Microfibbets. Post:
Hi-Vis, color 16. Abdomen:
DMC Rayon embroidery floss (one strand each of green and gold). Underbody:
Rainy's Float Foam (small, yellow, quartered). Thorax:
2-3 strands gray or olive ostrich herl. Hackle:
Medium dun. Tip for
hackle: Rotate the fly post up. Tie in the herl and
hackle. Wrap herl. On each hackle wrap, pin the hackle against the front
of the post with thumb or finger of your free hand before wrapping
between the hook point and post. This pattern can be adapted to
match most other mayflies.
I think this is
the prettiest fly I have designed. I named it "UD" because
that's how it floats (upside down), and it floats just fine with the foam
underbody. The abdomen
for this fly is crocheted over the foam underbody. Tie in the tails
first, then the post, next the floss (you'll have to separate out one of
the twisted strands), then the underbody. For info on how
to braid, see Fred Bridges' Braided Stonefly Nymph. This fly can
also be crocheted (I find it easier): See Torill Kolbu's very
comprehensive instructions in "The World's Best Trout Flies."
I braid or crochet this fly upside down (light color on top), to make
sure it looks good from the fish's eye view.
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Flies:
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Tier: Ken Schramm
Thread:
Black 8/0. Veil:
Half of a single strand of black Antron wool yarn. Abdomen:
Small black vinyl rib. Hackle:
European starling back feather. This pattern
can be modified with a bead head or can also be tied as dry/emerger.
Leave the Antron veil long, pull up and tie into a post, and add a
parachute hackle of dark dun or black. The modified flies are easier
to tie in size 18.
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Flies:
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Tier:
Ken Schramm
Thread:
Red 6/0. Abdomen:
Red piping twisted into a rope w/ 10 - 15 threads of white sparkle
Organza. Hackle:
Red saddle hackle. This pattern
was extremely effective for sockeyes on Kodiak Island. It utilizes a
unique material - thin red satin piping - which can be acquired from fabric stores
and some craft shops. The piping is twisted into a rope with threads of
Organza. You'll need
about 6-7" of piping and Organza thread. Cut the piping on an angle.
Lash onto hook well down bend, tie in Organza, Zap-a-Gap the tie-in
point, wrap thread forward to eye. Twist the piping and Organza to create
a candy-cane look. Wrap to within two eye lengths of the eye, tie off,
add hackle and finish head. Select One of Ken's
Flies:
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to Ken's Introduction.
Tier: Ken Schramm
Veil:
Tan Antron yarn strand. Abdomen:
Medium brown or amber vinyl rib. Post:
White poly yarn. Thorax:
3 strands of peacock herl. Hackle:
Medium dun, grizzly (shown) or dark barred ginger. This Veiled
Vinyl Klink is a simple modification of the Klinkhamer Special. I
actually began tying this fly about a month before Shane Stalcup's very
similar pattern showed up in "Fly Tyer." Shane's is prettier,
but they both embrace the same thinking: A caddis emerging at the
surface, climbing out of the pupal shuck. I had been tying and using
Klinks for several years since I first saw one in '96 and started
tinkering after a while. It was frustrating to see Shane in the
magazine with a pattern I thought I had just originated, but at least I
knew I was moving in the right direction. If you tie on
the 37160 hook, bend the hook point out slightly to improve the hooking
ability. Otherwise the point is directly in line with the eye. I
have not tied this pattern on the TMC 2488 yet, but it looks like it may
be a nice match. Tie in the veil and vinyl rib, then wrap forward and do
the post. Wrap the rib up the hook, tie off, pull the veil forward
and tie it off. Tie in the peacock behind the post, and then tie in
the hackle. Wrap a couple of wraps of herl behind and three in
front of the post. Wrap the hackle. You can whip finish on
the post, but I bring the thread forward and do half hitches at the eye,
a trick I learned from Dennis Potter. This is a great
searching pattern. As with the Klinkhamer, apply floatant only to
the hackle and thorax; the abdomen sinks into and below the film.
Select One of Ken's
Flies:
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for your tying needs.
Hook:
TMC 200R, #16.
Hook:
TMC 2487 #18 or #20 (shown).
Hook:
Wide gape scud hook, 2x heavy, size 6.
Hook:
Mustad 37160 #16, TMC 200R or fine scud hook.
Be sure to visit our on-line store at
http://www.flytyingworld.com/angling/index.html
for your tying needs.