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Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:47 pm
by CreationBear
All of them will fish, but I especially love the body taper on the first one..."yaller" is the only color you need here in the Southern Appalachians most of the year.
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:52 pm
by Donald Nicolson
Thanks CB,
That was the first one tied, when you see them large like this, a lot of careless dressing shows up. 
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:27 pm
by letumgo
Donald - Could you please explain the dubbing techniques used on the bottom two flies? They are all beautiful flies. I am especially drawn to the bottom two. They just look so darned "buggy" (sincere compliment). I look forward to seeing your steelhead spiders.
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 8:51 pm
by CreationBear
Not much wrong with that fly that I can see--though Hans might have exclusive Schengen Area rights to that Grip 14723BL if you leave the UK.
Otherwise, I'm really liking the the short hackle on that style of hook--I could see tying them down to #16's for a sulphur, especially this time of year.
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 10:44 pm
by Soft-hackle
Sweet! Love them all, Donald.
Mark
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 1:07 am
by cicvara
-Nicely done, excellent flies.
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 2:26 am
by Donald Nicolson
I rather went into auto-tie with some of these, I tend sometimes if I am listening to music,
to dress them without consciously thinking about it. A bit like auto driving a car and listening to the radio
at the same time.
The dubbing technique was basic noodle dubbing on waxed thread. Small amounts initially, building up to a thorax.
The wax was a rather hard Veniard wax, my lamp is an bright white 50w, throwing off quite a lot of heat.
I hold the wax cake near the lamp for a few seconds just before applying it. I also keep twisting the dubbing after every wrap. There is also that I used Camel fur quite a lot, as is well known a favourite dubbing of mine. The Brown Nymph had a body of 'possum, which is nice and hairy although thinly dubbed, the thorax was camel which is the opposite of 'possum, much shorter in the staple but dubbed thicker.
The Pale Dun Nymph used Grey Camel which gives a nice neat body and thorax.
I like camel and 'possum for opposing reasons, but also because they dub very easily.
I hope all of that made sense.
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 4:31 am
by Mataura mayfly
Donald, while it is true that macro photography can pick up thiny glitches...... I am struggeling to see any here!
All very nice looking flies. I have a draw to the first example, just looks really nice in form and taper, plus you got to love the look of those hooks. I might have to have a look for some of those next month whilst in the Northern Hemisphere.
Possum and Camel look to make a fine mix, for the reasons you have mentioned, but if you find them easy to dub with- see if you can find some black tail fibres from an Aussie possum. That stuff makes Seal seem awfully tame!
Re: A few more spiders
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 3:42 pm
by gig
They all look great Donald but I love that Brown Nymph, it would do so well in my local waters
