Nice to see that you have the minature books in your collection they were tied by myself , I also did a leather bound edition of Edmonds and Lee Brook and River Trouting. You make some excellent videos, if you need any Pearsall silk let me know as I have a few of the common colours .orange, purple, yellow, primrose, ash, and orange 6b.
Thank you so much Stuart - I remember reading your name before but didn’t put two and two together! The miniature Swarbrick has pride of place in my library and I have referenced your flies often!
Thanks Dennis! I don’t believe there’s anything magical about any particular material or thread - not that there is anything wrong with chasing down the classic stuff to preserve the history of the patterns, but that’s entertainment for us as the tier and not for the fish! The fact that soft hackles as an idea have developed independently several times around the world (consider the Japanese ‘kebari’ tradition for example) is evidence enough for me that they are effective flies for taking fish without needing the exact shade of silk or endangered bird hackle.
While looking through Facebook I drilled down on one of my favorite fly materials shop’s link and discovered your RU-vid channel, what a wonderful discovery! I just subscribed, love the level of detail and your willingness to share your knowledge. The video’s content and edit are first rate, well done.
The last fly I liked very much. The Not Tapered Head Looks more natural than a tapered head. I purchased all the materials to tie up some authentic NORTH Country flies. I enjoy fly tying although I live in the USA and enjoy all things Fly Fishing and Fly Tying the world is amazing in diverse fly fishing for trouts.
Gorgeous. I tie spiders here in Australia and fish them of course. Those skins you have are fabulous. I use partridge heavy wet hooks, Czech nymph hooks and Partridge sedge hooks. All work well with spider styles. Thanks for the book references as well-they look fantastic. :-)
I'd say they work anywhere there are trout or freshwater fish that will take a fly. I think they are elegant and fun. I use pigeon coverts, chickens and mallard coverts. Also Guinea fowl, although they can be a little coarse I use them a lot on kebari flies as well. I use two to four turns. You are so right about that. The unending prescription about the number of turns. If it looks good it is good and as we all say. the trout probably don't care in te least! Best wishes. :-)
We’re there real examples of flies in that little book????? That’s one heck of a cool conversation piece! Can’t imagine what the rest of your collection might contain!
They are indeed real flies - it’s an absolute little gem of a book! Thirty reference patterns beautifully mounted in that concertina book, to accompany the beautiful miniature of John Swarbrick’s 1807 list of Wharfedale flies. It’s got pride of place on the shelf 👍🏻
Thanks for posting. Very nicely.tied spiders! Just wondering what brand whip finisher you use. I've never seen one like that before. I definitely wanna get one. I have been fishing soft hackles for 5-6 years now.
The brand is “Au Ver a Soie”; I bought mine from 54 Dean Street (an Italian retailer) but it is also available through Lathkill Fly Tying and through Fly Tying Boutique in the UK
Yeah they work, but so do most flies.......and there was more fish in the rivers and they killed everything back in the day......id rate a modern day emerger over a spider anyday.
Can never understand this prescriptive flytying utter nonsense.......do you really think the fish cares if you are using silk or bog standard thread?? I bet it has no was of discerning the hackles you use.......
