Leven Spider-Cheers Stan !

[Englander]

Hi Guys~

The other day i tied up two Leven Spiders, same as those on page 43 of Stan Headleys book "Flies of Scotland" Only tied two as i was using leftovers from a tying season.

A few days later i had a four hour ticket on a local small water after work one afternoon, all my normal tactics had resulted in nothing ! not even a tug Gale force winds had stired up the water and it was cloudy.

I looked through my fly boxes for a "bright" fly that would show up in this dirty water, i was fishing with only one dropper due to the strong winds, i put a leven spider on the dropper............ a few casts later "Fish-on" and under an hour left on my ticket. A second cast over a rise and a dead drift resulted in a cracking tug , but no fish, a few small pulls......."Fish-on" this guy very kindly jumping and put on a great show running off line and making several screaming runs. I even hooked another fish but lost it right on my time, after a few missed bites.

First time i tried the leven spider and i saved the day i must admit till i bought Stans book i had'nt heard of it

Have you got one in your fly box Lets just say ive tie up a few more also using different variations.

Englander

[Bopper]

Sounds like a fun day, never heard about 'Leven' spiders, any pics or pattern?

[Gander]

Originally Posted by Bopper

Sounds like a fun day, never heard about 'Leven' spiders, any pics or pattern?

Hook - Kamasan 170 14-10
Thread - Glo-Brite No5
Tail - mixed Glo-Brite Nos 11&12.
Body - Flat gold tinsel
Rib - Very fine oval gold tinsel or gold wire.
Hackle - Sparse black hen, shortish.
Head - Built up tying thread well varnished.

[Scratch]

This thread brought back a few happy memories,which prompted me to have a bit of a waffle....

I used to use the Leven Spider quite alot on the likes of Stocks,Brenig etc. Had much joy with it too. It doesn't even come close to resembling anything remotely trout-fodderish,and just looks so wrong...but on it's day it works a treat. I guess it's one of those 'How can something so wrong be so right?' type patterns!
I found it worked best for me as an out and out little attractor on size 14's... or 12's at the most - either on the point or middle. Just didn't seem right in larger sizes,but never tried anything bigger than a 12 to be honest.
It fell out of favour with me several years ago now though and I can't remember the last time one was on my cast. It still has a special little place in my box though,and my heart...and I'll use it again sometime - it's a beautiful little pattern alright,and just one glance at that colour scheme takes me right back to the days when most fish were an accident

Not the exact tying...limited resources in those days ....but you get the idea.



Leven Spider

[midlander]

Originally Posted by scratch

Leven Spider

Ooh look at Rob and his manicured nails. Cost you a bit that?

Nice pattern that. I used to tie something very similar but with a silver body. Called it a Silver Viva Spider, purely for recognition purposes.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by midlander

Ooh look at Rob and his manicured nails. Cost you a bit that?

Err,no actually..... I have a slave. Gives me the full works whilst I'm relaxing and watching 'Who Dares,Sings'

[Englander]

Scratch

Lovely fly mate......... i tied mine on 12's .... i know what you mean it didnt feel right going any bigger. Mine have slightly longer tails and i use rook back feather tips instead of hackle , these feather have a lovely soft edge i love it for sparse black clyde spiders

Englander