Fly Tying the Black and Peacock Spider / Soft Hackle Fly Pattern

Once the spring ice starts to retreat, and the shallow start to repopulate with life, I like to throw little black flies along the shoreline. I use a very slow retrieve on these flies and allow them time to sink close to the bottom of the water body.
There are a number of ways to tie this pattern designed by Tom Ivens, but the way I've presented produces a nice durable fly with decent motion. Many of the flies I've seen do not include the wire, and so I feel these would quickly get torn apart since peacock herl is somewhat fragile.
Black & Peacock Spider Fly Pattern Recipe
Hook: Mustad 94840 #8-18
Thread: Black/brown 8/0
Rib: Fine copper wire
Underbody: (optional) black floss taapered
Body: 3-5 peacock herls
Collar: Black hen saddle
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[@richardc6932]

Just tied up several in both wet and dry fly hooks and honestly, the wet fly hook ones went much easier. Probably because I tied the wet hooks a little faster. I need more practice!. I like the pattern.

[@PiscatorFlies]

Awesome! It's been a good trout pattern for me. I hope that the trout you target agree. Best of luck on the water. D

[@gutworm686]

Lovely job. Do you not varnish your heads?

[@PiscatorFlies]

GuTWorm68, thank you, yes, I usually do use a head cement like Bone Dry, Loon Hard Head or SH Hard as Nails. I just skip this on video sometimes. ;) Cheers!

[@kerrypitt9789]

Nice pattern. Simple is better!

[@PiscatorFlies]

Kerry Pitt nice to see you here Kerry. Agreed, simple is better especially if you lose a lot of flies to trees 🌲.

[@glideman]

Very nice

[@PiscatorFlies]

+Colin Thanks for watching and for the comment. Much appreciated.

[@richardc6932]

Why the use of a dry fly hook when the spider is used in wet fly fishing? I always thought the black spider was fished wet.

[@PiscatorFlies]

Hi, Richard, you're right in that it's a wet fly. I don't remember exactly why I chose the dry fly hook for this one, but I do tie this style of fly on a range of hooks from the Mustad 94840 to heavier nymph hooks. With the lighter hook, I can fish the fly wet in or just under the surface and heavier hooks I'll get a little more depth without any added weight. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for watching and for the question.

[@joeduca8582]

🗻💨 wohooooo.... 👂💨 Awesome tutorial Darren. 😁 I know it's optional but I like the looks of an underbody, whether floss or even better dubbing. I've reinforced with thread before, I'll try wire next time, unless the pattern requires a rib. Those American feathers are great, I haven't used the hen yet. How's the Whiting red lable hen? They're supposed to be smaller. For that matter how do the Metz hens compare? I've only used generic hen or game birds. These spiders remind of sleelhead spade patterns. Do you ever tweak these flies like Alec Jackson did with wire, peacock and ostrich? Nice fat & juicy bodies. Cheers & thanks Darren 👍😎☕ have a biscotti, 👌🍣 closest emoji I could find ;-)

[@PiscatorFlies]

+Joe Duca thanks, Joe! I'm going to tie a few more with the floss underbody on my next soft hackle like this. After browsing on the Brotherhood of the Flymph, I found a nice list of spiders to try out. I can't comment on the metz or the red label stuff as I've only used the standard Whiting and some Chinese hen capes. I have some Indian capes from a long time ago, but they got quite greasy, so I'm not sure if I kept them around. I'd like to have the Red labels for smaller flies if I can find some. The standard ones are great for my steelhead and salmon, but they only have a few feathers for smaller sized flies.
I think it was Alec Jackson I got the peacock and wire idea from. I love his spades, like you say, fat and juicy. This biscotti tastes a little off, might want to check the best before date on that. 👍😎☕

[@joeduca8582]

Piscator Flies Come on man! They probably were twinkie emoji, not baked, chemical reaction. 😎🍺

[@joeduca8582]

Seriously, there's a brotherhood of the flymph? 😯

[@PiscatorFlies]

+Joe Duca Yes, seriously. 😎🍺 www.flymph.com/index.html

[@joeduca8582]

Piscator Flies Cool, thanks Darren, I'll check it out! 👍😎💻

[@fernandomiron7557]

👍

[@PiscatorFlies]

+Fernando Miron Thanks for watching!