re: tying Stewart's black spider

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raven4ns
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re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by raven4ns » Thu Aug 29, 2019 2:20 pm

I tried tying my first black spider with starling. Is part of the process of tying this fly a lot of cussing? Those blasted feathers are either too small or my fingers are too big. Aside from not tying any of those spiders do any of you have any suggestions? I watched Davy McPhail and he did it so easy, maybe that's the answer, just send him my material and get him to tie them... :lol: . Any and all suggestions gratefully accepted. Thank you.
All the best,

Tim
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The measure of a man is not how many times he gets knocked down, but how many times he gets back up.
zen leecher
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by zen leecher » Thu Aug 29, 2019 2:50 pm

try larger sized ones first and then switch to the smaller hackle. I tried some #20's and the starling stems kept breaking on me. I used black hen hackle for those.
daringduffer
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by daringduffer » Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:41 pm

You could watch this video by our member Niklas Dahlin. He has his own way to tie it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeprxcgxUbk

dd
raven4ns
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by raven4ns » Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:59 pm

Lol...what larger feathers, Bill, they are all really small. Mind you my vision isn't that great since my stroke which makes tying problematic at best. As it was I was trying to tie a #14 not a #20. What is the largest Stewart's black spider that is typically tied? Thank you for the suggestion, Bill.


zen leecher wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 2:50 pm try larger sized ones first and then switch to the smaller hackle. I tried some #20's and the starling stems kept breaking on me. I used black hen hackle for those.
All the best,

Tim
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44673530@N04/
The measure of a man is not how many times he gets knocked down, but how many times he gets back up.
raven4ns
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by raven4ns » Thu Aug 29, 2019 4:03 pm

Thank you, dd, for the video. It sounded like he was speaking in a Scandinavian dialect but his method was clear though. Thank you again.


daringduffer wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:41 pm You could watch this video by our member Niklas Dahlin. He has his own way to tie it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeprxcgxUbk

dd
All the best,

Tim
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44673530@N04/
The measure of a man is not how many times he gets knocked down, but how many times he gets back up.
zen leecher
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by zen leecher » Thu Aug 29, 2019 6:12 pm

raven4ns wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 3:59 pm Lol...what larger feathers, Bill, they are all really small. Mind you my vision isn't that great since my stroke which makes tying problematic at best. As it was I was trying to tie a #14 not a #20. What is the largest Stewart's black spider that is typically tied? Thank you for the suggestion, Bill.


zen leecher wrote: Thu Aug 29, 2019 2:50 pm try larger sized ones first and then switch to the smaller hackle. I tried some #20's and the starling stems kept breaking on me. I used black hen hackle for those.

Maybe you have a bad starling skin with brittle stems.
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redietz
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by redietz » Fri Aug 30, 2019 10:36 am

Use the smallest hackle pliers you can find.
Bob
zen leecher
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by zen leecher » Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:00 am

another way is to spin the hackle and the tying thread. Doesn't look as pretty but the thread reinforces the stem.
raven4ns
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by raven4ns » Fri Aug 30, 2019 11:48 am

Thanks again guys I appreciate your ideas and suggestions.
All the best,

Tim
https://www.flickr.com/photos/44673530@N04/
The measure of a man is not how many times he gets knocked down, but how many times he gets back up.
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chase creek
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Re: re: tying Stewart's black spider

Post by chase creek » Fri Aug 30, 2019 2:28 pm

I tie them like Dave Hughes in his book "Wet Flies". Pretty simple. I think I am pretty heavy handed, but his method works well for me. I can only tie down to a #16 'cuz of my eyesight and big thumbs. :D
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