Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Fly Tying => Topic started by: Mark Zhang on 17/02/2014 at 14:45

Title: Black spider
Post by: Mark Zhang on 17/02/2014 at 14:45

Want to tie some black spider flies for River don (size 16). what kind of hen feather should I buy? hen cape or hen saddle? Nature black or dyed black? Cheers.

Tight lines,

Mark

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Rob Brownfield on 17/02/2014 at 15:13

My understanding is that a cape provides a greater range of sized feathers to that of a saddle.

All my hen feathers are on a cape as I find the feathers are softer, which I like. They also are shorter and have a nice shape meaning that 2-3 turns gives a well formed hackle.

As for colours...I would say natural black has a certain shimmer about it whilst dyed are "flat".

I have also heard that dyed feather fibres are stiffer than natural.

Having said all that, all my black spiders are dressed with crow head (cap) feathers that have a wonderful softness and appearance...

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Mike Barrio on 17/02/2014 at 15:51

Natural :z16

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 17/02/2014 at 16:01

Mark

A soft natural black hen would be fine.
I only ever use Starling for any black spider hackle
A whole skin gives you loads to cover all sizes, plus great wings for split wings and wetflies
For spiders The soft greenish sheen is unbeatable IMHO.

Sandy

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Will Shaw on 17/02/2014 at 16:05

Bloody heck Sandy, you beat me to it :z4

As Sandy says:

I hardly ever use Hen feathers for spiders on rivers.

If you fancy tying some Stewarts Black Spiders, I'd go for starling. Really nice soft heathers with a hint of gold in them.

Get a skin rather than just wings. The hackle/back feathers are great.

Will

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Marc Fauvet on 17/02/2014 at 18:23

starling for sure !
imo, the stiffer-fibered hen capes are better for larger wet flies or streamers or as legs on winged emergers etc.
cheers,
marc

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/02/2014 at 19:47

Cheap black hen capes are good, expensive genetic one are bad for spiders.  A lot of modern hen capes have fibres that are too dense and stiff, the Keogh ones that Orvis supply are not bad as are most of the Indian capes but these can be quite hard to find an you really want to see a cape first before you buy it.  Starling is good as is Magpie scalp, I tend to use the latter.

Cheers

Ben

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Sandy Nelson on 17/02/2014 at 21:09

Quote from: Ben_D on 17/02/2014 at 19:47

as is Magpie scalp, I tend to use the latter.

Spoken like a true Mackem  :z4 :z4

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Ben Dixon on 17/02/2014 at 23:43

 :X

You'll pay  :z4

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Mark Zhang on 18/02/2014 at 11:01

thanks for the information. I'm going to get one and let you know the result.  :z18

Title: Re: Black spider
Post by: Mike Barrio on 18/02/2014 at 11:09

Great stuff Mark, looking forward to seeing a photo of the results :z16

Cheers
Mike