The North Country spider. They are a fascinating group of flies. Their basic structure and material are the epitome of simplicity. I love tying and fishing these flies. The thrill of catching a trout on a fly that was created 150 years ago is beyond words. One of the problems is some of the materials used to tie these spiders is no longer available or the price for them is so expensive. In Robert L Smith's book he lists feathers used in construction of North Country spiders along with photos. He also lists alternative feathers which can be substituted. These substitutes are in many instances what I use.
Published photos of North Country spiders also show a wide variance both in color of the fly as ell as the materials. Some of the issues I find are in the color of the silk thread used. For instance yellow Gossamer silk waxed or not can show a vast difference in body color. Does this make a difference to the fish, I don't know, but apparently it may have for the originators of the spider patterns make special mention of it in their notes. The pattern selected here is the Hare's Lug and Plover. I used the photo from Robert L. Smith's book the North Country Fly. It is on page 174 and shows the fly as it should be tied. In my tying of this fly all of the materials are as the pattern calls for with exception of the hackle. Plover is available but expensive and hard to get. So looking at Smith's photo I tried several hackles which I have to create this North Country classic. The first fly is tied with hare's lug dubbing, a fine gold wire and the hackle is a feather from a woodcock.
The second fly is the same dubbed body and gold wire. The hackle feather is from a dyed hen patch.
The third spider is the same body and gold ribbing. The hackle feather is from a hen pheasant.
Beautiful, Alan. I especially like number 3. I'm sure plover is a wonderful feather to work with but I'm guessing your substitutions will work equally well. I've been having fun working with some woodcock from last season.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike some of these feathers can put a fly tyer in the poor house. I figure if it's close to the original it should work. Woodcock is a great feather, especially for soft-hackles and spiders.
Those are elegant beauties, Alan. I have a feeling you were out fishing today with temps in the 30's. I hope you were.
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam I did go out today. Went to 2 streams but could not find parking. Crusted snow and ice along the stream made it a bit to dangerous.
Haha! I knew you would be out! Sorry you couldn't drift flies, but props for giving it a try! Spring is not far off, I keep telling myself.
DeleteSam the streams are a rising this morning...maybe tomorrow. I have an itch to fish the Farmington.
DeleteI have the same itch for the nearby Swift. Flow is back up again though and I sure don't want to take a spill in that water this time of year. Maybe this weekend I will fish from a few perches I know of close to the bank.
DeleteHi Alan
ReplyDelete2nd vote for number 3. Pheasant is such an underrated feather for hackling in wet flies. I have a brace of skins which provide a range of sizes and colours to cover all sorts of fly life.
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Alistair
Alistair Corbishley
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Alistair I agree. The feathers run from solids to those wonderful barred and mottled brown beauties. The feathers are not frail and they are easy to work with.
A couple of skins will tie a great deal of flies.
I should say so Alan. A friend who shoots game gave me them about 20 years ago and they have still got plenty of flies left in them!
DeleteWell I like them all. Quite excellent and a pleasure to see.
ReplyDeleteRegards, John
Anonymous
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John the north country spider built with a few materials and scantly hackled is a gift to the eye....both human and fish.
And I have an itch to fish near Farmington NM on the San Juan. But that will have to wait till I get back from my Costa Rica salt water trip.
ReplyDeleteGoing out today with the Tenkara rods. Should be muddy walking but clear streams.
bill piatek
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Costa Rica, do they have small streams?
Bill enjoy the warm weather and maybe some bonefish.
They actually have rainbows in higher elevation streams.
DeleteMostly going after Jack Crevalle on the beaches.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteIncredibly simple yet incredibly beautiful patterns! The hackle substitutes are gorgeous and will the trout note the difference? The only way to know is to jet set off to Great Britain and experiment! I would try them on your Connecticut jewels first!
Doug
Dougsden
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Doug I'm into simplicity both in life and fishing. These flies are perfect for me. It would be nice to jet over to G.B. and try them but not at this time. My guys will accept them I'm pretty certain.
lovely ties again Alan, I can't remember if I told you or not at my last Grayling Society meeting Robert was a guest speaker & since then we have had several correspondences with each other with a plan to meet up in the new trout season for a fish together.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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George if you do meet him again please tell him for me that I appreciate his work on that beautiful book. It's an inspiration.
One time honored way to tame squirrel as well as other unruly dubbing is to wipe the thread with varnish and then apply the dubbing. The varnish provides two benefits; being wet it slims down the dubbing and it is stickier than any wax. I learned this little trick from Al Troth over 40 years.
ReplyDeleteWonderful Post! I just came from the tying desk, where I was performing similar experiments (using Eurasian Plover vs. cock pheasant, etc., etc.). I’m anxiously awaiting the book as well (should’ve ordered it years ago!).
ReplyDeleteCheers!