How to tie a North-Country Spider (Orange Partridge)
ORANGE PARTRIDGE SPIDER Hook Size 14-16 medium wet-fly Thread Orange silk thread (gold wire rib is optional) Hackle Well-marked feather from the back of a partridge
Fix a size 14-16 medium wet-fly hook in the vice. Apply clear wax to a length of fine, orange tying thread, preferably natural silk, and catch it in at the eye.
Wind on two or three turns of the thread to lock the loose end to the hook then carry the thread down the shank in touching turns.
Once the thread has reached a position just short of the hook point, trim off the waste end then wind the thread back over itself to form a double layer.
With the thread positioned a short way from the eye select a small finely mottled brown feather from the back of a grey partridge.
Stroke the fibres back away from the tip of the feather then trim the tip to leave a short stub.
Catch the feather in at the eye then stroke the fibres back even more so that they sweep back over the body.
Wind on two turns of the partridge feather just behind the eye to form a sparse collar hackle.
Lock the hackle in place with a couple of thread turn applied just behind the eye then trim off the excess.
Finally, cast off the thread with a whip finish.
TYING SEQUENCE & PHOTOGRAPHY: PETER GATHERCOLE
