Black Spider
The Black Spider is one of the oldest and most effective North Country wet flies, attributed to W.C. Stewart in the 1850s. Its stark simplicity — black silk body, two turns of jackdaw or starling hackle — catches fish throughout the season and in all conditions. Fish it on the upstream dead-drift or the classic downstream swing. The spider-style hackle moves with extraordinary sensitivity and triggers aggressive takes from trout.
- Type
- wet fly (Mayfly)
- Hook sizes
- #12–16
- Target species
- trout
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Best seasons
- spring, summer, fall
Materials
- hook: Wet fly hook #12–16
- thread: Black 10/0
- body: Black silk or tying thread, slim
- hackle: Jackdaw, starling, or small black hen, 1–2 turns
Tying steps
- Mount a size 12–16 wet fly hook; start black thread.
- Wind black silk thread or floss from the bend to the 3/4 mark as the slim body.
- Select a jackdaw, starling, or small black hen feather; strip the lower fibers.
- Tie in by the tip at the 3/4 mark; make only 1–2 loose turns of hackle.
- Sweep all fibers rearward and secure.
- Build a tiny head; whip finish and apply a touch of cement.
- Apply the thinnest possible coat of lacquer to the thread head — no more than a needle-tip's worth.
- Inspect the hackle from the front — only 2–3 fibers should be visible on each side; the pattern should look almost bare.
- Test the hackle softness by blowing gently on the fly — the fibers should pulse and flutter at the slightest air movement, which is essential to the pattern's effectiveness.