Stewart's Black Spider

[Smuggler]

RE: Bulkiness objection ... how about you make the "tag" out of Veevus or Sheer or Benecchi ?

Probably not a bad idea.

[chase creek]

OK, gotta try this method. I've tried the original method, but always have trouble with the stem breaking when I twist the thread and feather together, so I reverted to Dave Hughes method, shown in his book "Wet Flies". That has worked great for me so far. Heading for the vise.

[Old Hat]

I like to just tie it with open wraps like a normal hackle, no twist. Wrap to back of thorax, then secure and then wrap the thread forward through hackle to eye of hook. Then....I stick the finished fly in my mouth and chew on it for a bit and wallah! It's perfect! Actually I do it just like Eric.

Great SBS!

[chase creek]

"chew on it for a bit and wallah! It's perfect!"

Ooops!
My final tying step - I tie it on to a 20' heavy leader and drag it around behind the car for about an hour.

Make all the fun you want about this pattern - it WORKS!

[DUBBN]

I never had a clue that I could use the tag end to wrap a hackle like that! AWESOME Eric!