North Country Spiders: Woodcock & Hare's Lug

[North Country Angler]

I don't know if any of you will be interested in this, but the recent excellent 'classics' threads got me thinking about how often as a born and bred north country lad, I see tyings of spider patterns which are just not true to the original concept. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, patterns always evolve over time as we all know.

But I do think it is a worthwhile exercise to try and preserve our fly tying heritage by staying true to those patterns handed down to us through the generations. I certainly get a buzz from fishing our Lancashire and Yorkshire rivers using flies which have barely changed in over 150 years.....I'm a bit sad like that

I was taught how to tie our local patterns by the sadly now deceased Eric Sayer and I consider it my duty to try and keep the fire burning. So if anyone's interested, let me know and I'll do a little series for you - nothing you wont have heard of, but north country spiders tied by a north country mon.....and lets see your efforts - I'd be particularly interested to see the creations of some owd Yorkshire counterparts out there!


Woodcock & Hare's Lug

Sadly neglected by many anglers today, this is of great use when caddis are around. Cast upstream on a short line to fish bulging on pupae, it wreaks absolute havoc. I can't speak highly enough of it, a real favourite.

Hook: Mustad R50 #14
Thread: Pearsalls - amber
Thorax dubbing: Hare's ear
Hackle: Woodcock marginal covert




Notes:
1. Hook should be of the bronze wire type, which allows the translucency of the silk to be paraded to maximum effect. Please don't be tempted to used black wire hooks as seems to be the current trend - they kill the pattern dead.
2. Thread body should be kept short - about in line with hook point.
3. Hackle should be tied in by tip - two turns max.


Thanks for looking and welcome to my nerd-ish little world

Matt

[matty1312]

that is a beautifully tied fly.

[Barrio]

Hi Matt

Nice, very nice, we fish spiders a lot up this way and they fish well on our small stillwaters too.

Best wishes
Mike

[abacus180]

Takes me back 40+ years that one. Especially the "lug" bit in the name.
Well done on the tying as well

[dabhoy]

Nice tie Matt
I respect you trying to keep your patterns alive and in the way they were meant to be.
I have tied a few spiders and tend to just tie them on B160's for them maybe not right but they still work

[wsbailey]

Hi Matt

In the past fly dressers always used wax on the thread to help secure the gut to the hook. Do you think wax is important to the look of North Country spiders even with eyed hooks? Bill

[steve collyer]

Lovely sparse but neat tying.

[sonnaghan]

Lovely looking fly. That idea of a little series would interest me even though I live in Ireland. Got a lovely brownie from the Drowes on a snipe and purple. No reason why other spiders should not work. In fact have been tying up smoe latterly. Any idea where I could get cobblers wax. None in Belfast and don't fancy paying a fortune in postage.

[Highlander]

Nice to see this fly. I tie mine with a yellow tag & find like many yellow bodied flies a Springtime cast. Love Woodcock adorned flies it is a lovely subtle coloured feather for wets. One of my favourites. Thanks for showing.
Tight Lines

[wye_wizard]

i often hear that north country spiders have to be tied using pearsalls tying silk,as an absolute beginner to tying why is this and can you use conventional tying thread? lovely looking fly and it doesn't look to difficult to achieve (i hope) jon mcmillan.