Saturday, October 13, 2018

Soft-Hackles And Spiders

Soft-hackles or spiders, what to fish and where to fish them. A small stream requires different tactics then larger bodies of water, with different tactics comes a choice between flies that we select to enable us to get the job done. In the stream pictured above a small sparsely tied spider pattern is almost useless in drawing a trout to strike. In a section as this a soft-hackle with some fullness to it would be a much better choice.



This soft-hackle is what I would use in a stream as pictured above. The fly has a tail, thread body and a pheasant feather tied with several turns, perhaps even using the whole feather. The fly would be noticed in the faster moving current.


This piece of water would be where a sparse spider pattern would excel. The spider would drift slowly in the mild current and would be seen easily by feeding fish. In this pool I have taken many brook trout over the years. I have cast spiders and watched them drift. At the end of the drift the fly settles to where it's almost at the bottom. Brookies would look at the fly and would attack it once it's twitched.


This spider pattern is perfect for fishing in places I described above. The fly is the same as the first one. Tail, thread body and a pheasant feather for the hackle. The difference is the feather is wound sparse, perhaps only two turns. These flies offer the best of both in fishing various places on a small stream.




22 comments:

  1. Good info nicely presented. Two thumbs up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William Shuck
      Thanks
      Bill only two thumbs up?
      I was checking out a shop in your neck of the woods. Great Feathers it's pretty nice

      Delete
  2. Hi Alan, I sometimes substitute a fine quill body for thread. Its more trouble and the fish likely don't care but I like it.Tautog has reopened. Time for combo Quahog/Tog chowda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John I've seen a few tied with quill bodies and I like them. Today is a great day for a "chowda"...maybe I'll put one together.

      Delete
  3. Alan
    Excellent explanation for using thicker patterns verses thinner ones; I have often got takes when using a little movement as the fly sits stationary.
    P.S. I suspect you guys are getting cooler temps, it was in the high 40's here yesterday morning.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill it's like the fish want to see if the fly is alive before they strike.
      Cool here for sure, some areas are calling for a frost.

      Delete
  4. "William Shuck
    Thanks
    Bill only two thumbs up?"

    I'm giving you all I've got, Alan. :=)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Alan, it's amazing what I can still learn. I do not know that I have ever thought about the fullness of my soft hackles,, but I have to say it makes sense. I know I've read that you were always suppose to keep your soft hackles sparse. I think you have come up with a reason you should not keep them sparse. Thank you for the lesson.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brad Basehore
      Thanks
      Brad in those fast riffled and crazy pocket areas a bigger fly, that is in terms of fullness just makes sense to me.
      Spiders should always be sparse.

      Delete
  6. Alan, I think you have a classic book in you. Yet another lovely post. Today in Norfolk it has been 29C. I didn't bother with piking. Tomorrow heavy rain is forecast, well allegedly heavy rain but we do need a major temperature drop. Anglers, they're never satisfied whatever the weather. Have a good one. Regards, John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      John a classic that's not come to print. 29c that's pretty warm. I would a 70 degree temp all year, now I must wake up. Very true about anglers being never happy.

      Delete

  7. "Brad Basehore October 13, 2018 at 11:44 AM
    Alan, it's amazing what I can still learn. I do not know that I have ever thought about the fullness of my soft hackles,, but I have to say it makes sense. I know I've read that you were always suppose to keep your soft hackles sparse. I think you have come up with a reason you should not keep them sparse. Thank you for the lesson."

    Don't believe everything you read, Brad, especially about soft hackles. There is a lot of "modern" misinformation out there about hackle length, stiffness, color/markings, barb density, barb angle, etc., etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill I agree with what you say....ever hear of Michael Brucato...

      Delete
  8. Lovely ties again Alan, that peat coloured water looks so much like what we fish here.
    cheers George

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. George
      Thanks
      I love fishing that stained water, the brookies have a dark color to them.

      Delete
  9. Those two patterns are gorgeous, perfect for the fish and their surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Agneta
      Thanks
      Mike hen pheasant is a wonderful feather for soft-hackles. It makes great kebari flies.

      Delete
  10. Alan
    Great descriptive post......
    I have used soft hackles/spiders a great deal this season, after some encouragement by others (including your self). The dry fly is still more productive on the Leven, but the wets have given me some superb catches on the Tees.
    Alistair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alistair Corbishley
      Thanks
      Alistair I like the dry fly in many instances, sometimes it may be the only viable way to fish a small stream. But in the back of my mind the wet fly is pressing for it's turn.

      Delete
    2. As a soft hackle man I've always felt like the proverbial red headed step child because I would choose to fish a heavier hackled fly in certain situations where others would tell me it should be sparse. Thank you for the affirmation; I feel vindicated! ...there IS a book in you, Alan.

      Delete
    3. mike
      Thanks
      Mike there are a lot of experts out there, I'll leave it at that. I'm sure you are very capable of fishing soft-hackles and know what and where to do that. A book...

      Delete