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Speyed...I mean Spade

2K views 11 replies 10 participants last post by  flytyer 
#1 ·
Spade flies arent the flashiest bugs that you can wrap, but they have a reputation as an effective fishing fly. This is my crack at Alec Jackson's version. There is some interesting history regarding the Spade. I learned a lot from performing a search on the Hooks, Feathers, and Floss section of this forum. Thanks for looking.
 

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#2 ·
this is a fine specimen
how do you get the body that fat ,im being serious here:razz:
ive tried to tye those is there a super dooper size ostrich feather or what:confused:
thx
m:De
not in the know
 
#4 ·
how do you get the body that fat ,im being serious here:razz:
ive tried to tye those is there a super dooper size ostrich feather or what
Hey Moe. The body is actually 4 strands of ostrich herl and a fine silver wire or tinsel spun together before wrapping forward. It creates an "ostrich chenille" so to speak and it is supposed to be more durable because of the wire. The peacock is done the same way. I just learned this technique recently. Im gonna try to incorporate it on some other flies too. Thanks!
 
#9 ·
Spades - yes

I like the spades, they fish well and yours is great. It took me a lot time to get that full body and actually find (yet is was there, close to me) how to create that ostrich herl chenille.

The peacock herl body is clean, and the transition to a clean ostrich body is great.

Think of the options you have not seen in the book yet ....
* Fall Pink and Orange Ostrich. Egg Spades.
* Winter, a green butt Spade.

I prefer to keep the tail thin, to minimize delay in the drop. But thats a personal preference.

Great fly.
 
#11 ·
Yessss! Very nice ;)

Mike
 
#12 ·
Very well done. Alec uses about 1/2 that amount of deer hair for the tail though. Alec is correct about his ostrich and peacock "chenile" made with the oval tinsel wrapped with the ostrich or peacock herl into the chenile being strong and durable. Alec's version of my friend Bob Arnold's SPADE is Alec's signature fly, you did it justice.

And as you found out by reading some of the history of SPADE, Alec and Bob have been friends for somewhere around 40 years. Some of my fondest times were spent at Bob's with Alec telling us story after story. Alec also admits that his body isn't any more effective than Bob's original rayon chenile body, but he does tell folks that it "keeps him out of dank bars".
 
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