Small softhackles
Tying up some #20 PTs and tried 2 different ways to hackle (couldn't wrap the hackle because the partridge didn't have feathers that small; also less fragile with these alternatives):
prepare feather (cut center portion out), place over fly with barbs pointing back towards tail, use 2 soft wraps, adjust length as needed by pulling feather and then finish wraps (tail's a bit long on this one):
prepare feather (cut center portion out), place over fly with barbs pointing forwards over hook eye, use 2 soft wraps, adjust length as needed by pulling feather, push barbs back over the fly and then finish wraps:
Although it doesn't show up very well in the photos, I think I get a better distribution of barbs using the 2nd method and the head of the fly is also smaller and neater (fish probably don't care). Tying that way is also a little faster, not much but enough.
Regards,
Scott
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