Tying with Partridge etc, for spiders.

[RideTheZypher]

I heard that when tying with Partridge and the like, the feather should be tied in by the tip. This uses up some of the small fibers and makes a smaller hook harder to tie due to the hackle being too long. I'd like to go small with spiders, if it was a gnat I was tying I'd say about a size 18. Have I got it all wrong? Any tips would be gratefully recieved.

They sure do snap easy 'n all.

Regards,
Jay

[Spider]

Jay, I've had this hassle a lot, and dont bother with partridge now. Apparently the thread used for the correct Partridge and Orange spider is no longer manufactured now anyway ?

If I'm honest, I found the same with Waterhen Bloa - I know it aint a small fly, but the fibres always seem too big to me, so I have had sod all success with it on my local stillwater !

They say Spider fishing is all about confidence ........

[North Country Angler]

You should be able to tie down to an 18 with partridge, but you need a very good quality English hen partridge skin such as those available from Cookshill. The hackles you want are the very small ones from the back of the bird's head/neck and even on a full skin, are not numerous. Tie them in by their tips.

Matt

[Highlander]

Apparently the thread used for the correct Partridge and Orange spider is no longer manufactured now anyway ?

I thought most of Pearsall's silk colours were still available.
Which colour are you talking about? is not available.

Tight Lines

[midlander]

Originally Posted by Spider

Apparently the thread used for the correct Partridge and Orange spider is no longer manufactured now anyway ?

I've tied the Partridge and Orange with Gossamer shade 6a orange, now defunct and shade 19 hot orange and caught on both. You're right though Pearsalls have drasticly cut down on their range.

At one time you could get around twenty different shades in Gossamer and Naples, about twelve in Marabou and maybe eight in Stout. At present you can only get about eight in Gossamer, less in Naples and Marabou and possibly four in Stout if you can find it at all.

[midlander]

Well, I'll eat my oh too hasty words. It appears that Sportfish are supplying a very good range of gossamer silk including shade 6a.

http://www.sportfish.co.uk/product/3...amer_Silk.html