Learn how to tie the Platte River Spider Streamer fly pattern, including step-by-step instructions, a video tutorial, pictures, and much more. Improve your fly-tying skills here.

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The Platte River Spider is a classic streamer and wet fly designed by Chris Schrantz that has been successful swinging on a trout spey fly rod as well as swung, stripped, or dead drifted on a single-handed rod.

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Step One

Begin the thread roughly one-and-a-half eye lengths behind the hook eye and then wrap rearward to about the middle of the shank.

Step Two

Select a bunch of Pheasant Tail fibers and tie them in on top of the shank right where you ended your thread base. Instead of trimming the excess fibers, just wrap your thread over them to create a smooth underbody.

Step Three

Select a brown and yellow Maraou Plume. Since these feathers will be wrapped forward, you want to look for feathers with thin, supple stems and ensure both feathers are similar in size, shape, and characteristics to the other. Once you've selected your feathers, stack one on top of the other and tie them both in by the tip at the same time.

Step Four

Now that you've tied the Marabou Plumes in, palmer them forward to your initial tie-in point. When wrapping the feathers, it helps to take your time and stroke the fibers rearward as you wrap to achieve a clean profile and enhance movement in the fly. After palmering the body, tie the feathers off, trim the excess, and use a bodkin to pick out any trapped fibers.

Step Five

Tie in two strands of Krystal Flash on the side nearest you, then fold over the excess and tie it in on the side away from you. Wrapping the flash over itself like this increases durability and saves time.

Step Six

Select a Mallard Flank Feather with fibers that are just a bit shorter than the Marabou--you want the Mallard Feather to contribute to the taper of the fly and flow well with the Marabou. Prep the Mallard Flank feather by stripping off the fuzzy portion of the bottom, then tie it in by the tip in front of the marabou.

Step Seven

Now palmer the Mallard Feather forward. While wrapping, be sure to sweep the fibers rearward so that they lay back nicely. Once you've taken a few turns, tie the feather off and trim the excess. If you have fibers sticking forward, take some turns over them with your thread to get them to lay nicely rearward.

Step Eight

Select two Furnace Hackles that are roughly three-quarters the length of the fly's body. Once you've selected the feathers, prep them by removing fibers and place them together with the shiny side of the feather facing outward. Tie them in on top of the hook shank right in front of the Mallard Flank and once secure, trim the excess and build up a clean head with your thread.

Step Nine

Complete the fly with a whip finish, then cut the thread and add a drop of head cement.

Swing it for trout, strip it for smallmouth, or dead drift it for just about anything, the Platte River Spider Streamer is full of movement and sure to attract any fish it encounters.