Re: [VFB] Hackle ??? Trimming again.

[Chuck Alexander]

Don: Thanks... It's just that in my kit, the smallest hackles I got were about 1/2-3/4:"  diameter feathers, so, wrapped around a #16 hook, it looks HUGE for the fly to have hackles that are 1/2-3/4" diameter.. See what I mean???? I get most of my fish UNDER the water, with wet flies (at least I have lately), so I guess in my case, it don't matter if they float or not... Thanks again.. I'll try to get some of those Tiny hackles ASAP... Is that what everybody here does??? Just get tiny feathers????Chuck ----- Original Message ----- From: DonO To: vfb@troutnet.com Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2005 1:02 AM Subject: Re: [VFB] Hackle ??? Trimming again. Chuck,   This is a subject we've had a couple of times before.  Trimming hackles raises the hackles of some and doesn't bother others.  Technically, the dry fly rides on the tips of the hackles.  If you modify the hackle tips, then their inter-action with the surface tension of the water changes.  Stiffer, cut hackles will break through the surface tension quicker.    Does it matter on a wet fly or a foam fly or a floatant-soaked dry fly?  Nah.  Probably not, unless you're sacrificing some movement in trimming hackles too close or over-doing it.    Is it 'proper' for a traditional dry fly?   No.    Is it an acceptable practice?  Depends who ya are.   DonO   ----- Original Message ----- From: Chuck Alexander To: vfb@troutnet.com Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 11:38 PM Subject: [VFB] Hackle ??? Folks: When tying a hackle  on a small fly, for a woolly bugger, and the feather  tapers smaller and smaller, do you cut the feather to make the hackle the same diameter down the woolly bugger, or just let it taper down as you get to the head of the bugger???? Also, If I have no TINY feathers, and I cut one down, to make it fit the ratio of the hook and other parts of a fly, this makes the hackle  stiffer than if I'd had some TINY feathers.. Will this affect the action of the fly in the water much??? Thanks in advance, Chuck