Wednesday, 10 April 2013

W.C Stewart & Spider Patterns

Some of the frequent viewers to my blog will know that not so long ago I rekindled my passion for fly tying after over a decade of not tying, and with everything else I wanted to start with the basics & get them right and one set of patterns which have always been good to me have been the spider patterns, predominately Clyde Style but also North Country, So much so I even took time to read W.C Stewart's Practical Angler first published in 1857 available free to download or read here: The Practical Angler



Thought to be one of the finest angling books ever produced according to many. I have to agree it does make very good reading and if you haven't read it then it something to pass away a few hours with a glass in your hand.

Stewart fished a trio of wet flies in a team on the Scottish rivers in the last century which he killed literally thousands of trout, the trio being the Black Spider, the red Spider & the Dun Spider. Not that I would Kill thousands in this day and age but I'd certainly be glad of a few fish each time I went out for sport.


 W.C Stewart's Black Spider















W.C Stewart's  Red Spider





                                     W.C Stewart's  Dun Spider

3 comments:

  1. Hippo10 April 2013 at 09:24

    "Not that I would Kill thousands in this day and age but I'd certainly be glad of a few fish each time I went out for sport. "

    I spent ages stocking the pond that I dug. It's all a question of patience, allowing the eco-system to stabilise, the fish to grow big and start breeding.

    This morning, at 4 am and dying of dysentery, I limped out of my room on the way to the loo and saw the bloody locals netting, NETTING, fish out of my pond.

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  2. George10 April 2013 at 09:34

    I think I would have reached for my blunder buster and took a shot....hope you get well soon mate.

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    Replies
    1. Hippo10 April 2013 at 15:43

      Crikey, I got into enough trouble breaking my hand punching a local. God knows what would happen if I shot one! I had to content myself with an RSM style bark of 'OI! What the f*** do you think you're doing!'

      I'm taking the pills so I should be better in a day or two, thanks.

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