Wednesday, January 4, 2017

"Legends" and "Winter Spiders"

I received a gift of a most wonderful book a few months ago. It's title is "Limestone Legends" The Papers and Recollections of the Fly Fishers' Club of Harrisburg...1947-1997. The book is a delight to read for it is like being there as these stories were being told. Many of the writers were just folks who had a story to tell, and some are pretty eloquently written. The members of this club are icons that I remember reading about as I entered into fly fishing, and the stories told were that of the famed waters of Pennsylvania's Cumberland County.

I'm not a guy who reads a book cover to cover "in that order" but thumb through it and when I spot something interesting and read it. Such was this fine piece written by Charles Fox.


In the article Mr. Fox compares two types of dry fly fishing. One where the angler uses a fine crisp Catskill dry fly, one that matches the hatch, and the other dry fly is an attractor or big bushy dry fly that gets the trouts attention. And this is so Pennsylvania..most anglers here also hunt, thus a precise Catskill dry "rifle" and a gaudy bushy dry fly "shotgun" applies so perfectly. I wish my typing skills were better for I would put forth the entire article for it's truly a gem.


I tied up some of those "winter spiders"..although they can be used successfully all year long.
The "Winter Brown"..Body Pearsalls Orange Silk- Hackle, Woodcock, and the head is Peacock.


The "February Red"...Body Pearsalls Red Silk, Hackle Grouse.







29 comments:

  1. I would love to get my hands on a copy of this! Is it rare/out of print?

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    Replies
    1. Andrew Fowler
      Thanks
      Andrew I was very fortunate to have a reader of this blog gift me the book. Very thankful.

      Delete
  2. Alan
    The Winter Spiders proves trout are not finicky about what they eat---good job at the vice. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill most times they will take these flies...today was such a day.

      Delete
  3. Alan,

    I have been on a soft hackle tying tear this winter, mostly fueled by posts like this. Everything from spiders to flymphs to softhackles.

    I have a box full of EXE flies which I saw while wasting time on the internet, simple flies, but I predict effective.

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    Replies
    1. srtillis
      Thanks
      Keep tying those flies. The simplicity of the spider is what makes them so effective.

      Delete
    2. I am not sure if I can post a link, but here goes...

      http://softhacklepatternbook.blogspot.com/2016/06/exe-fly.html

      It is pretty handsome if you ask me. I did use some super glue under the pheasant tail to protect it, since there is no wire rib.

      I couldn't find any reference other than this on the interweb, but it did strike me, so I tied it.

      Delete
    3. It is very pretty fly. I may tie a few.

      Delete
  4. Alan, I'm glad you are enjoying the book, it is the one book I have that I sit down on cold winter nights and read again. It has a lot of wonderful history and lessons for all to share. I honestly do not if that book is available anymore but I am going to find out. Your spiders are great,love when you post pictures of them , as far as the article goes it was written by a true gem of a human being. Charlie was a fine gentleman, I have been blessed to have met him. Thankyou Alan, I think I am going to pick my copy up and read it again...

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    Replies
    1. Brad Basehore
      Thanks
      Brad rereading the book is just what I'm doing. It's great reading the words of such masters as well as those who inspire us. I love sitting at the vise and tying those simple flies of years ago, and fishing them getting quick responses form our brook trout. Life is indeed good....thanks.

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    2. Alan - wonderful job on the spider's. This time of year that winter brown should really shine!

      Brad - if you find a source for that book, I would love read it myself!

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    3. Mark
      Thanks
      I fished both patterns last winter and when I did I got mixed results...the February Red, a pattern from Dave Hughes book "Wet Flies" did much better.

      Mark, check e-bay.

      Delete
  5. Looks like you have a classic book there Alan!! Love those soft hackles and spiders!!

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    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete the book's out of print and many are still trying to get their hands on it. Those old patterns are finding there way in many new fly boxes.

      Delete
  6. I lived in PA for 5 yrs. Lots of good fishing & hunting. I was also a fan of Chauncey K. Lively, who wrote a monthly article for the "PA Angler" on fly tying, featuring a pattern. I once sent Chauncey a letter and he wrote me back, in the most beautiful penmanship, I have ever seen.Unfortunately the letter was lost in a subsequent move.

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    Replies
    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John...lived in PA, kielbasa it all comes together.
      In this day penmanship is a lost "art"...you probably know the reasons.

      Delete
  7. Alan - Question from someone who doesn't tie yet... How difficult would these be for a novice to tie? I was having my best success of the year on soft-hackle flies last fall.

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    1. Fading Angler
      Thanks
      Chris, I would suggest a really good vise first...then the best materials you can obtain, and then pick a pattern and continually tie it until you master it. Do not be discouraged at first, the quality flies will come with practice. Even the lousy ones "will" take there share of fish.

      Delete
  8. Boy would I love to get a hold of a copy of that book!

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    Replies
    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard it's a hard find...maybe ebay.

      Delete
  9. Wow, great reading and reference material from days gone by. Beautiful job on the flies. Particularly, noticing the small peacock wrap in front of the Soft Hackle. Something I had not seen before..........

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    1. Grandpa Mel
      Thanks
      Mel there are several old North Country patterns that put a few turns of peacock for a head. Peacock is a fish attractor, but I personally prefer the peacock as a thorax.

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  10. Great gift Brk Trt..Rifle and Shotgun Dry Fly Fishing..priceless..

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    1. penbayman
      Thanks
      Mike isn't that a great title..the article is great.

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  11. Alan,
    Your patterns are so mind-blowingly beautiful! Simple, delicate, and such fish getters! These are equally effective on my little darlings (bluegills) in the stillwater ponds that surround my house! What is this universal appeal? What qualities attract the beautiful brookie as well as the intriguing bluegator?
    Your patterns are exceptional and to that we cannot deny!
    Doug

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    Replies
    1. Dougsden
      Thanks
      Doug, I have used then this summer in a lake I frequent and they took there share of bluegills, as well as smallmouth. The attraction is the seductive movements of the hackle and in some cases the sparse dubbing.

      Delete
  12. Rifle and shotgun...such a cool analogy. Great ties as always.

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    1. RI brook trout
      Thanks
      Jon hope your enjoying your holiday break.
      The story was terrific.

      Delete