[Peter McCallum]

that's lovely, Peter 

Gents, i recall reading somewhere that there should not be more than 13 legs (hackle fibers) on a North Country Spider.
could someone enlighten me on this please ? (just the history/author part, not a debate whether this is right or wrong  )

thanks,
marc

Saw a couple of clyde styles tied by an old guy when I were a lot younger and he obviously adhered to the 'as many fibres as there are legs'. He was also using a 11' or 12' greenheart rod and he was catching many many trout!!

[Marc Fauvet]

thanks Peter but i guess the mystery still remains. 6 isn't 13, heck it's not 12 either ! (in the case the angler's seeing double  )

cheers,
marc

[Peter McCallum]

Do you strip one side of the feather for the more sparse spiders ? I have started doing that and quite like it (though it felt 'wrong' ripping off good fibres !).

nope both sides but 1 1/2 turns max of hackle

[Loxiafan]

nope both sides but 1 1/2 turns max of hackle

Cheers Peter that was what I thought looking at your flee. To be honest, I do think the barbs 'sit' better (if you stroke them back as winding) without the stripping than with, I must admit.

L

[Loxiafan]

i have a hard time agreeing with a poo-pooer that feels the need to wear a safety helmet to go fishing...   

hey Marc, you've no been fishing with me......you might need it !

L

[Marc Fauvet]

not to worry, mate. i still have one of these from when i was a tree surgeon   

[Ben Dixon]

I think it was OE who mentioned 13 fibres for a NC spider.  I am sure somewhere I head that a spider tied in the Clyde style should only have x number of wraps of silk on the body and that it was not supposed to go anywhere close even to the hook point, tied very short.
Regardless Pete, that's a nice fly 

Cheers

Ben

[Loxiafan]

I think it was OE who mentioned 13 fibres for a NC spider.  I am sure somewhere I head that a spider tied in the Clyde style should only have x number of wraps of silk on the body and that it was not supposed to go anywhere close even to the hook point, tied very short.

He does mention it Ben, but doesn't approve....in his best Yorkshire drawl " a fish't have that down ti nowt in no time". Ollie wraps at least 2 - 3 full turns (unstripped) on his Wat Bloas. Tummel style spiders seem to have very, very short bodies. Local tends eh, ? !

Lindsay

[Ben Dixon]

Hi Lindsay,

I think you may be correct on both counts mate.  OE does use more hackle than 13 barbs and it could very well be Tummel rather than Clyde spiders that are tied short.

Cheers

Ben

[Peter McCallum]

 it could very well be Tummel rather than Clyde spiders that are tied short.

Thats the one Ben, clyde style - level with the hook point (no further back) sparse hackle and wing. Tummel - the body barely exists probably less than half way from point to eye max. Both very effctive.

Peter



P.s. both styles available from yours truely at competative prices