FLYMPH FORUM

I've always liked the combination of peacock and orange silk. (Peacock and anything, for that matter.)

A Dark Spanish Needle pattern of John Swarbrick, Wharfedale Flies (ms. 1807, published 1907). Offered by Swarbrick as a small stonefly nymph.


Thread: Orange silk
Wing: Feather of a wood owl wing
Head: Peacock herl

Being permanently short of owl skins, I substituted English woodcock. The same basic fly is repeated many times in books after 1807 (sometimes with new names), but I've not found an earlier version. Anybody know of one?


This variation is tied with peacock as a thorax instead a head:


I like the look, and the tie is a bit less fussy. Anybody seen this pattern in the literature? I cannot find one.

Both are very nice. For ease of tying and assuming the fish won't mind much, I would go with the second. But the "old guys" say tie the peacock in front of the hackle. It's all good!

This is great. I was just looking at the Swarbrick patterns this afternoon in an early Fogg book. These are great and I agree with the peacock = magic approach. Beautiful sub feather.

I was wondering what makes this Spanish. Doesn't matter but the question occurred to me. Thanks for saying this one.

Both great looking ties!!

William Anderson wrote:I was wondering what makes this Spanish. Doesn't matter but the question occurred to me. Thanks for saying this one.

William,
The Dark Spanish Needle (known also as a Needle Brown and Dark Needle) imitates small dark stoneflies (genus Leuctra) of the North Country. "Needle" of the name refers to the long and strikingly thin body of Leuctra adults, which roll their wings tightly around the body when at rest. "Spanish" refers to the color of the adult wings, which are a dark steely blue similar to that of unpolished steel sewing needles. Such needles were imported by England from Spain in large numbers in the early 19th century, which is when John Swarbrick first gave the fly its name (Wharfedale Flies, 1807). --Phil

That is some fantastic info!

Phil, that's something I either haven't heard before or more likely forgot, and I'll probably ask again sometime.
The needle reference has stuck with me for years and helps to keep a nice tight profile when tying imitations, but the Spanish needle color detail is interesting. I was hoping there would be a connection to a flamenco dancer. Thanks.

Very good work!!

An OLD Bohemian's version of the Dark Spanish Needle.

William Anderson wrote: ↑Thu Mar 05, 2015 6:35 pm This is great. I was just looking at the Swarbrick patterns this afternoon in an early Fogg book. These are great and I agree with the peacock = magic approach. Beautiful sub feather.

I was wondering what makes this Spanish. Doesn't matter but the question occurred to me. Thanks for saying this one.

William - I always wondered the same thing……” why a Spanish needle?“
Dana