Split-thread CDC & Elk SBS

[ScottP]

Overly complicating a perfectly good pattern for no apparent reason or making do with what I have? Burned through all my decent dun CDC and, although there's a bunch of widgeons right around the corner, the residents wouldn't take kindly to a harvest so I figured I'd use up all the shorts I have left until USPS can re-supply. Some folks prefer to double the tying thread over to create a loop; I like working right off the bobbin - saves me time, creates less bulk and I don't need to dig out a twister.
The dubbed underbody? adds some flash (some times it helps, some times it doesn't; I tie them both ways) and maybe 20 seconds to tying time.




hook - Dai Riki 320 #14
thread - Gudebrod 10/0 grey
underbody - Ice Dub peacock/black
body/hackle/legs/whatever - CDC dun
wing - deer hair dun


Part 1

mash barb and tie in thread







dub body; finish up at the hook bend







take the twist out of the thread and split







put the feathers in a clip of some sort and trim the fibers off the stem (only 2 hands and no tripod, so I can't show how I got to this step); slide the clip between the split thread







trap the fibers between the thread strands and release from the clip







spin the bobbin and you have your own home-made HF Hackle







wet fingertips, stroke it back, wrap it forward

[ScottP]

Part 2

clean & stack a clump of hair and measure for length (hook shank)










trim hair to length, 2 soft loops and pull firmly; take a couple wraps through the butts to anchor










half hitch x2, SHHAN; done fly






Regards,
Scott



edit - another option:
split the thread, dubbed one strand of the split, then inserted cdc and spun it all together; can't get Ice Dub to make a tight body but it seemed to turn out okay