I’m currently trying to fill my empty boxes with flies for the coming river season so I thought I should do a few step by steps along the way to show other members. I’ll be doing a new fly every week and tying up a dozen at a time. I probably won’t get through my list in that time but I hope to get more done around xmas and the new year. Anyway, here is my first fly, it’s an easy one.

Williams Favourite

Hook: Fine wire, Size 14/16
Thread: Black
Rib: Silver Wire
Hackle: Black Hen (my cape was natural black so it looks a little grey).

Take the thread down the hook in touching turns, but only as far as the hook point.



Tie in the silver wire.



Take the thread down the hook in touching turns. Trim off any excess wire.



Take the wire up the hook in even turns.



Tie off the silver wire and trim off any excess wire.



Select a black hen hackle with fibres 1.5 times the width of the hook gape.



Tie in the hackle and trim off any excess.



Turn the hackle around the hook shank a maximum of 3 turns. I like to tie in the hackle at the eye and hackle the fly towards the bend. This allows me to run the thread through the hackle for extra security (see photo). Trim off any excess hackle.





Pull the hackle back towards the bend and tie down the head.



Whip finish and trim off any excess thread. I like to whip finish twice (5 turns then 3) as I don’t use any varnish.



Half dozen already done:



I’m not an expert on North Country flies so other people may not tie them the way I have.

The photos are a bit dodgy but hopefully I’ll get the hang of it in the next step by step. Any hints on taking good photos welcome. I’m using a Pentax Optio WP in macro mode without flash. Maybe the flash would give crisper images?


Brennan

nice one steven. can't beat wee sparse spiders for browns.

One of my favourite spider patterns. Original has a tail of a few fibres of black hackle. From the vice of Alfred Williams, father of A. Courtney Williams who wrote A Dictionary Of Trout Flies the old classic book of fly dressings.
Bears more than a passing resemblance to The Black Pennell. I fish it as a bob fly but I have had fish on it when in the tail position.
A great wee black fly.
Tight Lines

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Try putting a background sheet about 12-18" away from the vice, stops the camera trying to focus on anything behind the vice.

Nice tie.

Not a photographer but I read once that a light blue background shows a fly up well.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

Vey well done Brennan and welcome aboard the step by step club
Oh and like Highlander a favourite spider of mine.

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Thanks for the comments and advice. I'll try and get some light blue card for next week.

Cheers,
Brennan

thanks brennan
going to have a go at the williams favourite this after noon
all the best ,
from cookie

Nice Pattern Brennan,

Have twissled up a couple myself!

Yaffle

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