I'm interested in learning to tie flies like those described in Castwell's series "Flies Only" on this site.
I understand that the hackle has to be tied in an "X" pattern, but I've not been able to do it so that the hackle looks right. I can tell by the pictures that the hackle isn't tied in the manner of "x" winding that seperates wings. It looks like the hackle is wound from the back of the wing to the front of the thorax and then from the front of the wing to the back of the thorax.
Sounds like the easiest thing to do, but by God it's not!
My problem is the hackle slips off the thorax, ending up pretty much like a conventionally tied fly.
I figure the thorax has to be oversize, compared to Catskill type dries. But I haven't had any luck getting it right!
Does anyone here tie ths fly? HELP!

Thanks, Charlie