Hello all,

Could anyone explain how to fish spiders? They baffle me.

Thanks!

I learnt how to fish spider patterns by reading the best book that i have read
which is The Art of the Wet Fly by WS Roger Fogg.
Roger Fogg has a recent book out called Wet-Fly-Tying and Fishing which is very good reading.
Their is also a website rogerfogg@artofthewetfly.com. Simple flies to tie and loads of tradition in the northern wet fly fishing far too much to put on here but a great way to fish.PB

Think the website is at

Art of the Wet Fly

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"Take not out your 'ounds on a werry windy day" Surtees.

This topic was well covered in August 2008. Sewinbasher gave the best answer. The thread must be in the archives.

Really, it is easy.......... (well for simple old me anyway)!

In a river..........fished upstream, retreiving to keep in touch with the flies...or, not for purists, fished directly downstream and retrieved in 6"jerks or figure of 8.

Downstream works really well when the river is up and has a wee touch of colour. But in low water, and sunny - downstream is no good, has to be be "up".

In both cases I team up with a nymph, especially Goldhead PTN, on the point, with the spider on the dropper. You also obviously need to use Mucilin sinkant as well.

The downsteram nymph has caught me wild Brownies to 2lb, and Sea trout to3 lb.

Keep it simple and you spider patterns will catch wild fish.

On rivers fishing a team of spiders? 9ft or 12ft, leader, team of three spiders - A point spider (weighted) or a bead head nymph at point position, on next dropper a size 14, spider, on top dropper a size 14, or 16, spider, or dry fly!

All bases covered, usually fished up stream on a short amount of fly line! You could fish a point fly and two droppers - or a point fly and one dropper!

Cast up stream with a short line, lift tip of rod as spiders trundle down stream toward you, watch for line stopping or darting. it's fast fishing of pocket water, or any quick moving flow of water. It's great fun! There are also several variations to this kind of fishing, but I don't want to complicate things for you. Hope this helps in some way.

M

Listen to Oliver Edwards. First time I tried his upstream and 'escalator' methods I had five wild brownies and a Grayling, plus one on a Klink. Missed a load as well. Great fun!



SharkeyP

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Often thinks not travel widens,
Stay at home the Trout obliges.

spot on Sharkey upstream in my opinion is the most rewarding and certainly the hardest way of fishing them, 1 to 1.5 rod length of line out flick them upstream, track them back and maybe allow them to go down stream of you and let the current bring them round and up, on the up point(rise of the flies) is where you will find you will get most takes just as the spiders are rising imitating a rising pupae,at this point you can hang them there aswell slowly drawing them back to you by raising the rod tip ,then when they have fished through take a step upstream and flick the flies up and out again
always make sure though that the end of your fly line comes down in front of the trailing flies by mending the line if need be ,but if fishing directly in front of you upstream you shouldnt need to mend the line ,and always keep in touch with the end of your fly line and having no slack in there at all ...

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

you are totally missing the point of spiders by fishing them in a team with beadheads, the whole point is that they are fished in the surface film..

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I totally agree. Been tying them for about 6 months. I'm fascinated by the concept. They look like nothing but something that is drowning, loose and free. Tumbling...out of control, spindles of energy throbbing. Pulsating their way downstream. In a last ditch attempt to survive.

Any weight would surley be detremental.

When I tie them I feel no urgency to make all the hackles face this way or that. Sure, I try to make them pretty but it is not my concern.

Chris.