Thursday, March 12, 2020

More Spiders, Orange Silk and A Dish That's Simply Everything

While fumbling around the internet I came upon a book that grabbed my interest. I had never seen anything written about this book which I thought to be strange. But looking further I found a copy of it and it sounded interesting and the price was right so I purchased it. The book named "Year of the Spider" by Phillip Storey puts a different slant on the North Country Fly. The book is a journal and tells of the anglers use of the spiders over the year. It also shows a different look of these spiders as tied by him. Maybe not a classic I still found it to be another look at these wonderful simple flies.



As you can see the flies look somewhat different than the North Country Spiders we commonly see.


The "Snipe Bloa" as tied from the book. The hackle is quite long and swept back. I'll give the fly a run and see what happens.


Have you tried getting YLI orange silk?


Mushroom Risotto....this is a dish you just have to try.








22 comments:

  1. Good Luck with the extended hackle, I'm not sure I like it, but then my opinion isn't the one that counts. The Trout will be the final judge. Looking forward to your review of its performance. The YLI silk is good stuff, I'm glad you recommended it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike I'm not expecting much from the fly, I think it will be lifeless in the water. YLI orange is in short supply, can't figure that out.

      Delete
  2. Mushroom Risotto...Love it. Doesn't hurt to throw in a little diced up chicken.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark chicken is fine as is shrimp or lobster if available. I'm not a fan of asparagus but they say that's great in a risotto.

      Delete
    2. I never liked asparagus either until I started grilling it. Grilled with a nice char, it isn't half bad.

      Delete
    3. Mike, I'll give grilling a try.

      Delete
  3. Almost bought that book a year or two back, now I wish I had.

    Stay well everybody!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. billp
      Thanks
      Bill I found the book to be well done. Different perspective is always good.
      Seems we are dodging something everyday.

      Delete
    2. They remind me of the Gartside Sparrow a bit. Or of Steelhead Speys.

      Delete
    3. Bill, I do see spey fly in the the way they are tied.

      Delete
  4. Alan,
    Interesting flies, thanks for sharing.
    I'm not a fan of mushrooms...I'd rather eat the spiders.. :-)
    JJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beaverdam
      Thanks
      Joe there is more protein in the spiders. I guess you could use most anything in a risotto.

      Delete
  5. Alan, I'm not old, but I'm old-school about my spiders (laughs). One of my favorite things to do with spiders is strip them through 4'-5' frog water behind stumps & jams. After each strip, the hackle "pops", which, I think, is why trout strike. No pop with the hackle tied back. I thought the pulsing of a sparse spider hackle is what makes them attractive in riffles along with the color? Your dishes never fail to make my stomach growl (more laughs).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matt Harding
      Thanks
      Matt that pulsing is what draws the strike especially in faster water, and the sparser the hackle the more movement you'll get. To heavy or to long and all you get is hackle that lies against the hook shank. All my opinion so for what that's worth. The type of hackle also plays a role in movement. I love starling and I wish I could find some with longer feathers.

      Delete
    2. Alan, that's what I thought regarding spiders. Your opinion is confirmation enough. I, too wish I could locate longer starling. The last starling skin I ordered was kind of a bummer because it wasn't the greenish iridescent kind I wanted. No more online starling for me.

      Delete
    3. Matt, starling is not what they were. I have one good one that I purchased from a shop several years ago. Since then I've not found another one that is as good. They say that English starlings are better. Online is a gamble.

      Delete
  6. Hi Alan

    I'm not convinced about that hackle either, keep us all posted on the results.......

    I am, however convinced about your mushroom risotto. A good risotto is food for the soul. My wife makes a superb risotto with chestnut mushrooms and leaks from my dad's allotment. I have also made mushroom risotto with a good glug of Barbaresco and a large glass of the same on the table (other Nebbiolo wines would work just fine). One disaster with risotto we have had was 'risotto nero' with cuttlefish ink and Queen scallops - it looked stunning but was way too salty!

    Stay safe in these unprecedented times Alan and keep those posts coming.

    Alistair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alistair
      Thanks
      Alistair, I'll give the fly a sporting chance.
      Risotto is an accepting dish and goes well with many items. I have had it with scallops and that was awesome.
      We all need to use caution, but do not panic.

      Delete
  7. My wife and I rescheduled our trip to Iceland to November. That means this is an open week and I intend to fish like a maniac. Life in the Driftless is good.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. dpnoll
      Thanks
      Well it sounds as if your week will not be wasted, fish on buddy.

      Delete
  8. Alan, There's wild asparagus in the salt marshes along the CT shoreline. Where they came from is a mystery, like the Kokanee of East Twin Lake. Huby (mushrooms) are outstanding food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John I never knew that asparagus will grow wild. And growing in the salt marsh I wonder if that would enhance the flavor. The Kokanee must have been stocked at one time, they are not native to CT.

      Delete