Yorkshire Spider (John Shaner's Collection)

[tie2fish]

I've learned several things from seeing the patterns posted on the is thread, the most recent being the realization after looking at the Dark Watchet that I have been using fur that is too fine for touch dubbing spiders. That spiky effect is more desirable IMO.

[letumgo]

Carl - That fly is superb! It looks as beautiful, as it looks effective. Top marks, as always.

[William Anderson]

Wow, that dark watchet is really the heart of this collection. That is a brilliant tie and it is nice to have such a specimen as a reference. Thanks again for sharing this one. John, I can see why you have this as a screen saver.

Carl, I remember vividly the first time I saw your Devil's Crook pattern. I'm as struck by our now as I was then. I also remember thinking that might be the greatest fly name I've ever heard. Beautifully done

[Greenwell]

Bill,

This original Dark Watchet is most likely dubbed with Water Rat, now almost impossible to get. The often stated substitute is mole, hardly a spiky dubbing material! What you are seeing is an extreme close up of a fly roughly size 16 so the individual fibers appear much coarser.

The hackle as recommended in Pritt is either Jackdaw Throat or a feather from the outside of a Coot's wing. I believe the fly here sports the latter.

[novabass]

This is a very impressive fly and can see why it is your favorite. Love it!
Is it possible to get Jackdaw Throat or Coot's wing these days? I'm feeling really out of my realm right now. I'm not familiar with either one of those feathers.

[Smuggler]

This is a very impressive fly and can see why it is your favorite. Love it!
Is it possible to get Jackdaw Throat or Coot's wing these days? I'm feeling really out of my realm right now. I'm not familiar with either one of those feathers.

Not as impossible as the water rat. I know cookshill offers these from time to time.

[redietz]

Coot isn't particularly hard to come by.

[novabass]

Thanks guys!

[gingerdun]

I looked at Water Rat in Wikipedia:

Water rat is a common name for several unrelated semiaquatic rodents, including:

• European water vole, found in north and central Europe and Russia
  Rakali, found in Australia and New Guinea
  Round-tailed muskrat, found in the United States
  Nectomys, found in South America
  Amphinectomys savamis, found in Peru

I possess a fair amount of muskrat that I have, until now, assumed was a substitute for water rat. Now I am curious about how the dubbing compares to the European water vole. The fibers must vary in spikiness also depending upon the age of the critter, the time of year, and what part of the pelt they comes from. So many variables!

Lance

[letumgo]

Lance - A while back, William Anderson posted some great photos comparing mole, water rat, and muskrat fur.

COPY OF WILLIAM'S POST: http://www.flymphforum.com/viewtopic.ph ... =10#p65065

A kind and generous friend passed along a beautiful sample of water vole.



I have mole that is a bit lighter and muskrat that is more blue, but these are typical. The scans aren't great. I'll try to get shots of these with my point and shoot, but no promises that it will offer any better information.