Saturday, September 15, 2018

Shenk's Skater-Spiders

Skater-spiders are a variant of the Hewitt "Skaters" which were created by Ed Hewitt back in the thirties. He used these flies and I might add many others as well to take trout on the rivers in the Catskill's. The "skater-spider" was created by Ed Shenk of Carlisle PA. I found the chapter on these flies in his book "Fly Rod Trouting"...it seems Ed was tying these flies for Joe Brooks who used them quite successfully. Shenk's flies used a typical dry fly hackle where Hewitt used "spade hackle" which are very hard to get. I tie a variation of Shenk's fly. I use a tail. I'll tie these in size 14 and 12. As far as colors are concerned I don't really see a difference and the trout take any color. They are a simple fly to tie, requiring only thread for the body, a few coq de leon fibers for a tail and the hackle. I use Whiting 100 packs...the flies have oversized hackle 14 and 12 I use size 10 hackle.



This skater-spider uses natural grizzly hackle.


This skater-spider uses what Whiting calls grizzly/ march brown hackle.


This lightly colored skater-spider uses brown hackle fibers for the tail and ginger hackle.

While these flies are not the most visible on the water to anglers the fish see them well and that's what matters.








20 comments:

  1. Those Alan, are micro works of art. A real treat. Regards, John

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    1. The Two Terriers
      Thanks
      John it's all good until the fish go and slime them up.

      Delete
  2. Hi Alan, Ed explained, the "Skaters" land on the water resting on the surface film (held there by surface tension) on the points of their hackle. The hackle points depress the film slightly creating numerous pseudo "lenses" in the film. These lenses refract and scatter the light, thereby signalling all the trout, in the pool that dinner is now being served. If Ed's light theory is correct, the "Skaters" should work best under bright sunny conditions.

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    Replies
    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John quite thorough. Ed's theory is correct for I've found they do work better on a bright day.
      I read something similar to Ed's thoughts and it involved Fran Betters style of tying hackle on his Ausable Wulff. He used two different size hackles.

      Delete
  3. Hi Alan
    I am definitely going to knock some of those out this weekend. I have a nicely coloured and marked cape from Root River which is packed with size 12 & 10 hackle and really stiff, they should work really well on this pattern.
    Alistair

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    Replies
    1. Alistair Corbishley
      Thanks
      Alistair the larger #10 hackle works best. I use a size 14 hook.
      I'll wait for your report...

      Delete
  4. Great flies, Alan! I notice they're tied on up-eye hooks. Might help them to skate and skitter, right?

    Best wishes, John Strucker

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    Replies
    1. Unknown
      Thanks
      John if the upturned eye does help them skate better I have not noticed it. I think the stiff oversized hackle is the key to the flies skating ability.

      Delete
  5. Alan
    Perfection at the vice---thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill flies that work, not sure if it's perfection.

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  6. Another thought, Alan: Seeing lots of crane flies the last few days in the Berkshires. Your Shenk Spiders might impersonate them. I'll tie up some and give 'em a try.

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    1. John, the skater is quite impressionistic so I think if your seeing crane flies about I would try on of the skaters.
      Where about are you in the Berkshires?

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    2. Hi Alan,
      I'm in Worthington - technically just east of the Berkshires. Most of the crane flies I've seen have been near my porch light, probably from nearby brooks. Let me know if you're ever headed this way.
      John

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    3. John, I fish Mass. but closer to Sandisfield, and up north around the VT border. Lovely little streams there.

      Delete
  7. Alan,

    Lovely ties. I'm going to try and whip up a couple here this week and try skating on the Firehole. All your doing. I've some light wire hooks that should work good for this.

    I am curious ... could you share the hook you are using with the upturned eye? I don't recognize it right off. I really like the hook.

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    Replies
    1. spike
      Thanks
      I would love to see how these skaters will work on the Firehole.
      The hook is a Mustad 94842 in size 14.

      Delete
  8. Thanks for your blog. I love it. More foodies please.

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    1. Paul Cox
      Thanks
      Oh yes those food posts. I have one coming up on pizza, should be tasty.

      Delete
  9. Great looking flies, Alan, which will get good action. Is there a fly floatant that you use with them, or do you just keep them as is? Best, Sam

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    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam they do have an excitement factor on certain days. I use Gink applied in the usual way.

      Delete