Jimi, Just a few hints in tying on your tails. There are many approaches, but here's what I do with hackle barbs and hair tailing. I cut the tail long enough that I can tie it down underneath the whole body. 2 reasons- no edge of tail drop-off that may show in the body materials, and more anchoring space.
I anchor the tail at the ends towards the front of the hook, and this tends to splay the tail materials. But as I wrap just snugly towards the bend while pinching the tail materials, the lighter tension wraps just gather up the tail fibers without crimping them, which makes them splay. Don't cinch down here, but make a few wraps, then just snugly rope your body, or whatever else you're doing and finish the fly. The tail will stay nicely gathered yet anchored well at the front ends. DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: "Desert Eagle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 8:11 PM Subject: [VFB] Tail Problem ? > Evening folks, > Seams kind of quiet and thought I would toss out a problem I am having > and see if anyone can give me a fix for it. > I am working on my "Black Gnats" and have a problem. The recipe calls of > "Black Hackle Barbules" for the tail. Now I assume they are referring to > just pulling some of the side off a black hackle and using it. What I have > tried, ( "Not" getting into the few actual dry fly hackles I have), is not > at all satisfactory. Even on a #14 dry fly hook the finished product > collapses the tail and just "Mush's" it out. It will not stand straight. I > do have "some" pheasant hackle that is soft but at least it is a "Bit" > stiffer than this other stuff. Problem is, it isn't black and still not as > stiff as I would like. > I have gotten up to 12 segments, ( 16 on one), rope dubbing the body on > a # 14, dry fly hook and the hackle actually looks very good. "But" the tail > ruins the whole appearance. > Dose anyone have a suggestion as to how to maybe stiffen up the hackle, > or something else I can do to make these look as good as the rest of the > fly, or something else I can use ? I thought of Biot but don't have any > black in that either. I want these to be the best I have done yet, ( Except > for my "Prize" winning flies for the Rope Dub Swap). > Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. > Working smaller and smaller, > Jimi >
