Traditional spider

[Novice]

I want to tie some trad spider after watching Mr McPhails dvd. Which feathers can I use as a substitute to water hen for waterhen and blow spiders please?

Novice

[MARAZION MIDGE]

Ordenary cock hackles are fine or even hen hackle, its softhe but fine

[wingman]

For a waterhen bloa you could use any blue dun coloured hen haclkle but to tie it properly then surely it has to be a feather from the underwing coverts of a waterhen's wings (if its the waterhen bloa that your'e referring to Novice) You can still pick waterhen wings up from various suppliers although not in great supply. But if your'e just playing around with the pattern then any hen hackles as above would do.