Greenwell's Spider (variant)

[GlassJet]

You must be sick of seeing this fly from me, but it really has proven to be a superb fish catcher for me. If there was any fairness in this world for trout, this fly would be put up right alongside maggots and worms on my river - and banned!

Thought I'd have a go at tying it on a short shank, see if it still does the business.

Greenwell's hen hackle, fine gold wire rib, pearsall's primrose silk, well waxed, Kamasan #14 short shank hook.

Andrew.

[letumgo]

Wow! Fabulous fly Andrew! I, for one, love seeing these flies. Keep them coming.

[Ruard]

Hi Andrew,

Verry nice fly and very cleen tying!! What is the variant?? tis is exactly the pattern as R.Fogg gives it.

Greeting

[GlassJet]

Hi Andrew,

Verry nice fly and very cleen tying!! What is the variant?? tis is exactly the pattern as R.Fogg gives it.

Greeting

Hi Ruard,
variant only in as much as I tied it short shank. Don't want to be too free and easy with the classic patterns. I think the classic pattern as we would understand it today would be tied on a standard length hook I know that tie catches fish - I don't know this tie does...

Andrew.

[cicvara]

-very nicely done. beautiful.

[Ruard]

[quote="GlassJet
Hi Ruard,
variant only in as much as I tied it short shank. Don't want to be too free and easy with the classic patterns. I think the classic pattern as we would understand it today would be tied on a standard length hook I know that tie catches fish - I don't know this tie does...

Andrew.[/quote]

Hi Andrew,

For short style spiders see Article 3 of David Westwood on my site: Tummel style.

Mike also likes the short shank style of flies as do I (Idon't know the thread anymore). But you are right, it is a variant, and I agree with you that we must keep the patterns as pure as we can.

Greeting

[tie2fish]

I'm betting it will, Andrew. Lovely tie.

[DNicolson]

Roger Fogg recommended s/e short shank hooks for spiders.
Here are a batch I tied.Includes Greenwell spider
http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page58.html

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Lovely wee fly. Very clean dressing, as stated before. I'll bet it is just as effective as your other version, maybe more so.

REE

[flyfishwithme]

You must be sick of seeing this fly from me, but it really has proven to be a superb fish catcher for me. If there was any fairness in this world for trout, this fly would be put up right alongside maggots and worms on my river - and banned!

Thought I'd have a go at tying it on a short shank, see if it still does the business.

Greenwell's hen hackle, fine gold wire rib, pearsall's primrose silk, well waxed, Kamasan #14 short shank hook.

Andrew.

yes, great fly Andy. Interesting, I recently received a supply of single hackles (these inluded specimens of rare feathers which can no longer be obtained legally - if at all) from someone who has a collection of old fly tying materials relating to NC flies. His collection is dated around c1810. His Greenwells feather was a lot diffrent to what we normally accept today. The principle difference is that there is more a a dark area in the feather. I have managed to get a cape similar to what he sent me and I had to go throug quite a lot to locate it.