FLYMPH FORUM

Hook: Mustad Signature R50, size 14
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer, light olive
Hackle: Greenwell's hen
Rib: fine gold wire

... or "Greenwell Stalker" . But by any name, these are nicely done.

OK, I'm beginning to see now. This batch of flies are the same ones as those in your previous posts, you just keep photoshopping them or something to change the color. (Just kidding)
Beautiful, again. I'm really impressed by the consistency of these ties.

Tom, it's fun when spider fever sets in and the compulsion takes over. Sometimes it lasts for weeks. Good for us if yours drags on for months. I'm so glad you're sharing yours with us. This is another sweet set and such a beautiful cape.

w

Good to see those new capes coming to good use.
The consistency of your flies is very good- I cannot get any two to look the same, let alone a dozen.
What brand/size of wire are you using?

Very nicely done Izaak. Nothing better than a few Greenwell's. These are very crisp and well tied. I find myself often sitting down to tie a few spiders and enjoying it so much that I end up with a lot more than I would ever need. My fishing buddies like that about me. A little heavier hackled than I prefer on my spiders but that is only preference and an attempt at constructive conversation.

Old Hat (aka New Hat),

This hackling density is my preference, or should I say tendency? I tend to go one (or more) turn of hackle too many, often looking at the finished fly regretting that I had wrapped that last turn! Over time I am getting better at this and happier with the results. Maybe I need better lighting?

I like the hackling seen in many of William's spiders that he has posted on his WilliamsFavorite website. Really nice!

What determines your preference? Is it the "look" or the "fishability" or something else?

Tom

My personal opinion, I think you have the hackling about right. I grew up into fly tying with a heavy British based influence, nobody wrote volumes on fly tying specific to NZ..... they were too busy fishing!
Seriously though, I think the one to one and a half turns is a more modern (dare I say Americanised) trait and the wee wets of old and hackle flies that were wingless were most often heavy in both the length and amount of wraps of hackle. Well, they are as depicted in most older British tying book colour plates.

I also tend to hackle on the heavy side. I can pinch, pluck or trim on the water (very hard to add material in on the water) or let the trout teeth trim, slash and cut to their desired length.

I think a lot depends on the waters you fish, how skinny the spring creek, or how full the raging torrent and the specific variety of trout as to how you prefer your soft hackles hackled. One mans spider could be anothers streamer.

Izaak wrote: I like the hackling seen in many of William's spiders...

Tom, that's very kind of you to say. My flies may never be as tidy as yours but I love tying them, enjoy the historic element and had my first major success on the Letort with a P&O cast upstream. I have been addicted ever since. I'm glad you raised the hackling question in the tying section. I'll share my experience there. Most all of it initially gleaned from friends here.

Just superb, nice bit of hackle work. I wouldn't consider that over doing it IMO. Trust me, I've seen over doing it and it doesn't look anything close to that haha.