Snipe & Purple traditionally immitates Stoneflies.
Now for the debate
I have always had the Snipe and Purple as a traditional imitation of the Iron Blue (a quick check and Edmonds and Lee and TE Pritt seem to agree
) along with the Dark Watchett (which i prefer
) size 14/16 is a good don fly in spring and autumn. Often have the Dark watchett on the middle, but some patterns are just personal favourites.
Many of the spiders are stonefly patterns, like the Partridge and Orange/yellow/red and the spanish needle flies amongst others. From a quick read the stoneflies seem to be tied with either yellow,orange or red thread.
For tying the Snipe and purple, it is best tied proper tradition style with Pearsalls no.8. The idea is the silk takes on the right shade when wet. But then i can be a bit of a tradition junkie when it comes to spiders
My opinion is that on general size and colour when wet, most spiders are general representation of various insects, however they are often regarded as a particular representation of a certain insect during a hatch
.
Noel get the spiders wet when you start and if they are tied nice and sparse they will sink very easily, degrease the whole leader too. The idea is for them to tumble with the current whilst hanging subsurface ( think drowning fly) and then lift slightly before recasting once the flies are past you (rising emergers). Like Ben says fish a short line and keep in close contact with the flies. Stick to water that is moving at a reasonable pace (glides to rapids) you need the current to make the flies dance in the water. Sometimes if they stick IN the surface its not a bad thing
Set up is personal, shortish 9ft leader with 2 or 3 flies (personal preference) fluorocarbon can be a bit stiff (some brands) i tend to use froghair or some other co-poly. Just remember the flies need to dance with the current to look alive and use what you have confidence in
Sandy
