A excellent fly. Davie McPhail has a YouTube video where he shows how to tie this fly. He twists the feather and tying thread together to make a much stronger fly.

Barry

YouTube Video - Davy McPhail tying Stewart's Spider

I have never seen nor read his book. So what’s his idea behind the fly being tied around the bend? Was he imitating a cased caddis or midge? Cove’s nymphs were largely tied on a grub hook ( caddis ) and fished on a leader greased up to within a few inches of the fly In the seventies in Britain, it ...

The British military used to issue condoms that were very heavy duty, they’re just latex after all which I’ve used to tie in the past. They lasted a long time. Latex is easily coloured with a waterproof marker pen. Makes for a nice fly. B As a footnote during wwII Winston Churchill ordered large con...

Thanks for taking the time to publish this sbs.

letumgo wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 10:29 pm Can you show us your version of each?

Ray, will do, but I just use the orginal standard patterns, but my materials might vary a bit from others. I’m playing with a new photography setup so it will take a little time to publish.
Barry

Ray, I have to admit I seldom use soft hackles when guiding. It’s mostly chuck and duck with large indicators and nymphs. But in saying that I’ve done well on occasions with using soft hackles in place of nymphs. I generally stick to what I know works, it’s hard to experiment when a client is paying...

I wasn’t sure where to put this, but I think the fishing cabin is as good place as any. I’m not a great tyer because of poor vision up close, but my flies are strongly tied to withstand the rigors of casting and fishing. Here is a example of what I’m talking about.
Barry

DUBBN wrote: ↑Tue Dec 24, 2019 3:49 pm For me copper was the original "bling".


In The Riffle Sawyer PT

Not quite a FS tied them, but good enough to fool the same number of fish. ( I’ve got some FS originals)

Merry Xmas to one and all

Copper wire or a little squished lead foil underneath the thorax is perfectly acceptable in my book. Certainly does not add “bling” unless your fishing for pike or bass.

If you look at most brass beads they have a larger hole at one end than the other. The original use for this was to slide a bead onto your tippet when extra weight was required, the larger hole going over the knot and eye of the fly. Still a very useful way of turning any non beaded fly into a beade...