Jumping into Intruder Shanks

SpawnFlyFish

SpawnFlyFish

Steelhead
Forum Supporter
For the last eight months, we've been working alongside Shane Woodworth, an Alaska-based professional fly tier who ties thousands of flies each year for premier lodges across Alaska. Shane came to us with a very specific requirements based on the realities of fishing in Alaska, and together we went through multiple designs and prototypes before landing on this final design. The result is the new Alaskan Intruder Shank. Built from heavy-duty 1.2mm stainless steel wire (black nickel finish), it features an extended return arm (with taper) that provides the ideal platform for large dumbbell eyes (small wont work), every bend, angle, and length was intentionally designed with a purpose. Nothing about this shank is accidental. We're genuinely stoked to see what everyone creates and hooks into with this new shank! You might even see them soon in a new Todd Moen Film...!
 

Attachments

  • sas28-spawn-alaskan-intruder-shanks-spawn-fly-fish-7457250.jpg
    sas28-spawn-alaskan-intruder-shanks-spawn-fly-fish-7457250.jpg
    36.9 KB · Views: 40
SpawnFlyFish said:
For the last eight months, we've been working alongside Shane Woodworth, an Alaska-based professional fly tier who ties thousands of flies each year for premier lodges across Alaska. Shane came to us with a very specific requirements based on the realities of fishing in Alaska, and together we went through multiple designs and prototypes before landing on this final design. The result is the new Alaskan Intruder Shank. Built from heavy-duty 1.2mm stainless steel wire (black nickel finish), it features an extended return arm (with taper) that provides the ideal platform for large dumbbell eyes (small wont work), every bend, angle, and length was intentionally designed with a purpose. Nothing about this shank is accidental. We're genuinely stoked to see what everyone creates and hooks into with this new shank! You might even see them soon in a new Todd Moen Film...!
Click to expand...

What lengths?
 
First shipment of them headed out to Hareline today - Hopefully your local fly shop will bring them in so you can see first hand!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4446.jpg
    IMG_4446.jpg
    556.7 KB · Views: 12
Love to see innovation. As inventor of the Alaskan shank can you explain what the tying variations are relative to the standard waddington shank. Does the Alaskan have a straight hook eye or is it bent? I'm already scratching my head as to how a hook is attached to an Alaskan or is the tail designed straight so user can bend it 180 to customize the shank length and act as hold point for senyo hook wire.
 
fatbillybob said:
Love to see innovation. As inventor of the Alaskan shank can you explain what the tying variations are relative to the standard waddington shank. Does the Alaskan have a straight hook eye or is it bent? I'm already scratching my head as to how a hook is attached to an Alaskan or is the tail designed straight so user can bend it 180 to customize the shank length and act as hold point for senyo hook wire.
Click to expand...
Definitely a lot different than a traditional Waddington shank, but I wouldn't say this shank completely reinvents the wheel. People have been tying this style of pattern for a long time. What we needed to solve with our collaboration with Shane Woodworth was platform, angle, and strength. To accomplish that, we increased the wire gauge for added durability and strength, changed the eye angle to improve how the fly tracks, and, most importantly, extended the return arm much farther than traditional designs. That longer return arm creates a stable, easy-to-use platform for attaching lead eyes or dumbbell eyes without crowding the rest of the fly. They tie a bunch of "whisper" style flies where space for a full wrap of crosscut rabbit in front of the eyes is needed - the return arm length solves this. From there, simply attach your hook connection with wire, braid, or mono—whatever best fits what your doing. Some of the tiers using these shanks don't attach a hook at the vise at all. They leave the braid in place and can swap hooks on the water in seconds!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top