Mike Harding
2009, hardback, 192 pages

Mike Harding, broadcaster, comedian and experienced fly fisherman, has written a guide to tying one of the most well-loved and beguiling traditions of fly, the Northern Spider.

These designs of fly, conceived around Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales, are renowned for being both simple to tie and excellent for catching fish.  They are characterised by using brightly coloured silk threads and bird feathers.

Mike Harding examines 140 classic Spider flies and explains how to tie them using step by step photographs.  He also describes the history of the North Country tradition.