re: tying Stewart's black spider

[raven4ns]

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... . Any and all suggestions gratefully accepted. Thank you.

[zen leecher]

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]

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]

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.

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.

[raven4ns]

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.

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

[zen leecher]

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.

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.

[redietz]

Use the smallest hackle pliers you can find.

[zen leecher]

another way is to spin the hackle and the tying thread. Doesn't look as pretty but the thread reinforces the stem.

[raven4ns]

Thanks again guys I appreciate your ideas and suggestions.

[chase creek]

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.