First spider attempt

[danielp]

I have been trying to tie a "proper" spider style pattern as I am quite interested in trying to learn the fishing technique this year. Relatively happy with the first attempt but a few questions and observations.

Winding the peacock through the hackle has made it very scruffy, is there a knack to this or just practice?

Are the proportions okay? Know there are lots of different proportions to aim for but thought across from the point was a good place to start.

Is the hackle length and density okay? I like the sparseness but think it could do with being a bit longer.



Many thanks in advance for the advice.

Dan

[BRUCE1]

i like sparse spiders try tying a stewarts black ,a great all round spider ,even for still water,what feather have you used there ?????

---------- Post added at 11:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:13 PM ----------

buy or see if someone can lend you this DVD you will learn a lot from it and it also shows you how to tie spiders such as the stewarts black .....it shows you the fishing methods of spiders etc etc etc

Flytying Boutique - for unusual and interesting materials

[Scratch]

That's a lovely tie Daniel. I think it would be really picky to criticise the hackle length on such a delightful tie, but yes, maybe a teeny weeny bit on the short side. Absolutely no reason for the fish not to take that... unless it comes with the awful colour cast like the photo Sort yer white balance out mate

[wingman]

Nice first attempt danielp, it looks like a snipe hackle. Not sure which spider this is as I can't make out the colours that well. If this calls for the herl to be wound behind the hackle then theres no need to wind it through it. If you want the herl to look like its going through the hackle just wind the herl so much behind then let it lie forward a bit while you tie in and wind the hackle and tie it off, then carry on winding the herl for couple more turns for the head and tie off. Put a thin coat of varnish over the thread before you wind the herl to bed it onto the thread and hold it better, some tiers wind the herl around the thread then wind it around the shank for extra strength.

[christy27]

I like mine a bit like this:

[wingman]

These are the proportions I use on all my spiders

[danielp]

That was the proportion diagram I was looking for!! thanks for posting, new I had seen it on here before.

The hackle on the fly is starling covert, will try to take a better pic tonight. Only got a shitty old compact so it is a case of trying to sort the white balance out post hoc which is not easy for someone with my image manipulation skills lol.

Cheers for the comments, will have a bash with proper proportions and a longer hackle.

Dan

[dabhoy]

Nice looking Spider Daniel as has been said already maybe a little longer in the hackle as they do tend to be wispy.
I had a play around with your picture and whether it is better is debatable but here it is any way

[danielp]

Cheers, certainly a bit clearer. Going to give the tying another go tonight and will post some pics taken against a different background for both flies. Anyone got any tips about white-balancing in GIMP or similar? Only thing i could think of is inclued a true white and black spot in the picture and then use the atuo level thingy to sort it out for you. Would that help? Suppose the easiest way to find out would be to try lol

[flyfishwithme]

Originally Posted by wingman

These are the proportions I use on all my spiders

Iam glad that some people have got the use of that diagram I did...