having trouble splitting feathers

[bugman]

Nice fly ya got there.. i dont tie many salmons but do tie lots of speys that use similar tying tactics.. the way i split feathers is to soak them in warm water fer 1 or 2 hours.. then i lay them on they side & cut of the very tip (big end).. i use a very exacto knife handle with a half of a razorblade in it to split the quill.. split in down ith length till ya get 3/4 the way down then grasp the split end.. pulling outwards very qiuckly on the split ends usually finnishes the rest of the splitting.. for delicate & thin feathers ya gota pull a little slower..