A friend of mine at FAOL sent me an email regarding
Spider Patterns. I have always been interested in
Soft-Hackle (Spider) Flies, but never really
investigated them, or tied them. My fly boxes have
very few Spiders, I soon hope to remedy that situation.
Spider Patterns are probably some of the earliest flies
that were tied and used in fishing. They are also some
of the easiest fly to tie, yet there are certain
perimeters that should be understood.
· The Spider has it own proper proportions, just as
any other fly pattern.
· The Hook is a standard wet fly hook; no extra weight is used.
· The recipes go from very simple to more detailed.
· The body of the fly ends on the hook shank, at the
point just above the hook barb.
· The soft-hackle wing sweeps back so the barb tips
are inline with the hook barb.
· The Hackle is very sparse with only two or three wraps.
Simple Spider
Simple Spider with Ribbing
Simple Spider
Hook: Wet Fly (Standard - 1XL).
Thread: Traditionally Silk, but use
what you have available.
Ribbing: Optional (thin wire or alternative
color thread).
Body: Thread.
Hackle: Game Bird or Chicken Hen. (Only
two or three wraps around hook).
Simple Spider-Dubbed Body
Simple Spider-Dubbed Body with Ribbing
Simple Spider - Dubbed Body
Hook: Wet Fly (Standard - 1XL).
Thread: Traditionally Silk, but use what
you have available.
Ribbing: Optional (thin wire or alternative
color thread).
Body: Dubbing should be some material that
absorbs water, such as rabbit, squirrel or dyed wool.
Hackle: Game Bird or Chicken Hen. (Only two or
three wraps around hook).
Simple Spider-Abdomen/Thorax
Abdomen/Thorax with Ribbing
Simple Spider - Abdomen/Thorax
Hook: Wet Fly (Standard - 1XL)
Thread: Traditionally Silk, but use
what you have available.
Ribbing: Optional (thin wire or alternative
color thread).
Abdomen: Thread or floss.
Thorax: Dubbing should be some material that
absorbs water, such as rabbit, squirrel or dyed wool.
Hackle: Game Bird or Chicken Hen. (Only two or
three wraps around hook).
Simple Spider-Herl/Dubbed Head
Simple Spider-Herl/Dubbed Head with Ribbing
Simple Spider-Herl/Dubbed Head
Hook: Wet Fly (Standard - 1XL).
Thread: Traditionally Silk, but use what
you have available.
Ribbing: Optional (thin wire or alternative
color thread).
Body: Thread.
Hackle: Game Bird or Chicken Hen. (Only
two or three wraps around hook).
Head: Peacock Herl, or a Dubbed thread.
Many of the Soft-Hackle (Spider) patterns call for hackle
I have never heard of or seen in any fly shop I have visited
(Starling, Red Grouse, Snipe, Dotterel, Woodcock, Waterhen,
Jackdaw, and Coot). I suggest that the tier use whatever game
birds are available locally and make their own personnel
patterns, which suit their fancy and serve the purpose.
Come to think of it, that is how most fly patterns are created!
~ Parnelli
Please check out the Fly Tying Section, on the Bulletin Board, here at FAOL too.
If you have any questions, tips, or techniques; send them to
publisher@flyanglersonline.com
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