Charter member I thought it was flounder! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of DonO Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 3:48 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [VFB] How many hackle feathers ?
Rene, Some tiers will only tie with a hackle in a collar pattern, one wrap right in front of another, without going back into the previous wraps. This stems from tradition and old-habits-die-hard, and was necessary due to the characteristics of older neck hackles. Thus, to build up the hackled portion, and to not have the fly look light on the front end, a 2nd hackle was wrapped through the first. This hackle would rest between the previous wraps (the stems, being much thicker than today's, would leave gaps) and not lay down previous hackles, giving a fuller, neat collar apperance without any 'wild hairs'. This also worked well for the 2-color hackles. Back then, fighting hackle webbing was also a chore, so the 'sweet-spot' on many hackles was very short, requiring 2 hackles for a well-dressed fly. Many young tiers today don't even know what the term 'sweet spot' on a hackle means. Today's genetic hackles must be approached differently. The stems are fine, and the barbs webless and very fine and stiff. It is possible to overwrap previous hackles without losing the appearance of the collar, as the stems are so fine, they lay right in without bending over previous wraps. Wrapping a traditional collar on a fine base will leave the front end of the fly a bit weak when held up to the light (which is how a fish sees your fly). So some underbody under the hackles can help. The rules have changed because the materials have changed. Today's hackles are also perfect for parachute patterns as the collar can be very narrow, and yet dense. And rope-dubbing a hackle in with the dubbing rope would have been near impossible 30 years ago. I have an antique collection of 20 or so dry fly chicken necks from the 40's or 50's. The small neck hackles are so short, the only way to tie a decent dry would be to use at least 2 feathers. I've watched necks progress through the early years, and saddles through the latter years. What's available right now from any genetic breeder is a tier's dream-come-true compared to the stuff of the 60's and before. Charter Member, Overhacklers Anonymous, DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rene Zillmann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, September 25, 2004 10:27 AM Subject: [VFB] How many hackle feathers do you use for a fly > List, > I recently run through some of my tying books. > When it came to hackling a dry fly, they very often called for 2 > hackles, which were wound one after the other to build the hackle. > > When I tie my own dry flies, I usually take one hackle, especially when > I use saddle feathers. How do y'all do this? > > Rene >
