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F&F Fly Pattern Archive

Endrick Spider

This fly was first created by John Harwood, and later adopted by Peter Mackenzie-Philps for rainbow trout. It was intended for wild brown trout, although it often picks up a salmon or a sea-trout without much bother.

It is a fly without anything startling to it, yet is one of the most effective searching patterns I have ever come across. My grandfather used it on the point almost all the time, and he landed many a good fish with it - whatever he was fishing for.

Certainly I recommend it whole-heartedly to all my clients as the fly to put on on your own water, or on an unknown stretch. My wife also likes it in sizes 18 and 20 as a middle or top dropper, and she is no slouch with a rod!

Pattern

Hook: ASHIMA F40 sizes 10 to 16 (although it can be tied smaller on F15)
Thread: Tan Uni-Thread 8/0
Underbody: A cigar shaped winding of fine copper wire, leaving room for tying in tail and hackle
Tail: Four to six pheasant tail fibres, tied in quite short
Body: The pheasant tail fibres wound flat around the copper underbody
Rib: Oval silver tinsel (even on the smaller versions - just fewer turns in this case)
Hackle: Grey Partridge - not too long

Variants

I have tied this fly in various colours of dyed pheasant tail and can clearly state that, for me, only this pattern has any effect at all! It has been used in black, yellow, olive, orange - but only the original works. However a slight variation with a copper rib and/or a brown partridge hackle does work, but is still not as effective as the silver rib grey hackle one.

Fishing

As I mentioned above it is a sterling fly on the point. I fish it in sizes 12 and 14 for river trout, 10, 12 and 14 for rainbows. I find it fishes (in the larger sizes) best on the point, but it can be fished as a dropper (middle or top) in sizes 16 to 20. Make your dropper about 7 or 8 inches long.

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David Westwood of NorScFly ties exclusively for private clients. All patterns for all gamefish, including magazine flies, and repeats of that last fly you have left. Contact him at Davidflies@btinternet.com