Spider fishing is one of the most traditional and effective forms of river fly fishing in the UK. It uses small, sparsely dressed soft-hackled flies known as spiders, which are fished beneath the surface to suggest emerging insects, drowned adults or small invertebrates drifting naturally in the current.
It is the most common form of wet fly and soft-hackle fishing on British rivers, particularly across Yorkshire and northern England, where patterns such as the Partridge and Orange, Waterhen Bloa and Snipe and Purple have a long history. The flies are deliberately simple. Their fine bodies and mobile hackles come alive in the current, creating movement without needing to imitate one exact insect.
Spider fishing is particularly effective during summer, when trout can often be seen moving and feeding in faster water. Fish holding in riffles, runs and broken glides may be difficult to target with a dry fly, but they are often willing to take a small spider drifting just beneath the surface. It is an excellent method when trout are feeding on emerging upwing flies or small sedges but are not consistently rising.
There are three principal ways to fish spiders. The first is upstream, allowing the flies to drift naturally back towards you in a similar way to nymph fishing. This can be particularly effective in clear, shallow water where a delicate presentation is required.
The second is across stream. Cast across the current and allow the flies to drift through likely water under controlled tension. This allows the soft hackles to pulse naturally as the current works on them, while still keeping the flies moving at a believable pace.
The third is across and down. Cast downstream and across, then use mends in the fly line to control the speed and direction of the swing. The aim is not simply to let the flies drag rapidly across the current, but to guide them through the water at a natural pace. Swinging spiders around the tail of a pool can be particularly effective, as trout often hold there ready to intercept insects being carried out of the faster water.
Spider fishing is commonly practised with two or three flies where local rules allow. A team of spiders can cover different depths and suggest several insects at once, but a single fly can be equally effective on smaller rivers or where casting space is limited. The key is to fish lightly, maintain control of the line and allow the current to provide most of the movement.
At Peaks Fly Fishing, spider fishing is one of our favourite summer river methods. It is simple, elegant and extremely effective when trout are active in faster water. If you can see fish moving in the riffles but they are not confidently taking dry flies, a small team of spiders can often unlock the session.
## Recommended Equipment
### Rods
* 8ft 6in to 9ft 6in fly rod.
* A #3 or #4 rod suits most river spider fishing.
* A longer rod can help with line control on wider rivers.
### Fly Line
* Weight Forward Floating.
### Leaders & Tippet
* 9ft to 12ft tapered leader.
* Add one or two droppers only where local rules allow.
* Use fine tippet for small spiders and clear summer water.
## Peaks Fly Fishing Tips
* Fish spiders upstream, across stream or across and down according to the water and the behaviour of the fish.
* Use mends to control the swing rather than allowing the flies to drag quickly across the current.
* Pay particular attention to the tail of pools, where trout often intercept insects leaving faster water.
* Keep casts short enough to maintain control and detect takes.
* When trout are visibly moving in fast summer water but ignoring dry flies, try a small spider team before changing to heavier nymphs.