With regards to two-fly rigs, would most of you recommend tying the traditional (weight-free) soft hackle before or after the weighted nymph in an effort to get the soft hackle deep. I've been reading too much about Leisenring and his gentle "opinion" of beadhead soft hackles...

I think anytime you can stay out of the water you are better off. It is certainly not always an option. Down and across works better on larger rivers for sure but shouldn't be forgotten on the smaller ones. I generally approach the down and across with steelhead tactics. Just how I learned it. Ther...

I've recently started to fish the variety of soft hackles and flymphs that I've tied and had some luck with upstream casting with dead-drift, as well as through quick riffles with weighted flies, but still haven't hooked up with any trout on the classic down-and-across. Our streams here in NE Iowa a...

Anyone ever try this? Caught a few nice trout this morning with my weighted flymph but landed more with a pink squirrel. Wondering how a soft hackled pink squirrel would do... I'm figuring I'd trim the pink chenille in half and tie a hackle behind it.

taylor16, Howdy; Excellent looking Spiders!!! Jump right in with both feet why don't ya... :lol: Great looking tyes. You don't appear to be a stranger to a tying vise. Are you relying on the hackle to prevent the bead from moving towords the eye or are you putting a little something extra in there?...

thanks y'all...

Wanted to try to tie some with some tungsten beadheads tucked behind the hackle to get them down when the trout aren't looking up. Any thoughts on this?

I'd be interested in any positive criticism here -- I started tying soft hackles this week.

taylor16, Howdy; I noticed that you are from NE Iowa... What is your target species of fish? I will have some bearing upon what and how you wish to attack the critters. It will also (?), have something to do with how you rig up for your fish-de-jour. Welcome to the forum and please, ... don't stop ...

With respect to adding weight, is it more effective to tie wire into the body or add a beadhead to the front?

Went fishing today and didn't have any success with spiders. Landed a good number of trout with heavily weighted nymphs and streamers along the sides and undercuts of lunker structures. It was a cold day, around low to mid 30s F with zero surface activity. Question is, how can spiders/soft hackles s...