I tie lots of Alaska flies, such as Popsicles, etc, and the end result is
that this is what helps me. To tie it so it circles around the shank, like a
collar, I keep one of those wet sponges in a dish of water, such as you get
at the stationery store ( or failing that, just the bottom of a plastic Coke
bottle cut off about 2 inches high with water in it..something that is small
and doesn't spill). Then I take the marabou and wet my fingers and wet the
marabou..sometimes even dip it when I'm in a hurry..but that does make it a
bit too wet. Then tie it in by the tip. the moistened marabou doesn't fly
all over so you can get a much nicer, evener collar or wrap around the hook.
Spin the hook (or spin the marabou around the hook if you have a stationary
vice) and tie it off. I usually tie the marabou in close to the eye and
bring it back a turn and tie it off there, then wind the thread back through
the marabou to the tip (usually on the underside of the hook) just as one
does when tying in hackle as in Hans Weilenmann's article on hackling. That
way you can get a nice small head. Hope this helps. Joyce
