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Thread: Hackle twisting

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Dublin, NH
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    Default Hackle twisting

    Hi,
    I have been struggling with my soft hackling. I seem to be getting a "twist" as I try to wrap. I'm stripping the bottom of the feather to get the webbies off, tieing in by the tip, trying get the dull side towards the hook shank. I also seem to be breaking the feather as I try to wrap. I get my hackle pliers on the tip, wrap carefully, I think, but keep breaking. This is all with partridge feathers as I have been working on some soft hackle flies. Thanks all!
    Mike

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Cresco, Iowa
    Posts
    230

    Default

    Not certain but I think your feathers are dried out. Trying soaking the bottoms in a hint of water. I can't answer the twist thing as I seldom have that trouble.

  3. #3
    AlanB Guest

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    As you wind stroke the fibres back with the index finger and thumb of your non tying hand. Its a technique from tying salmon flies called doubling. With game bird hackles it takes a deft touch to pull it off. If you do this, you can shape the hackle according to how you want it to be when finished. A little hair conditioner may help with the splitting of the stems.
    Cheers,
    A.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2002
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    Beacon Falls, CT
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    You just woke me up. How do you tie in by the tip and then put the hackle pliers on the tip?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
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    Kapaa, hawaii
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    Partridge feathers are quite delicate you can't put much tension when you wrap.
    There is another technique. You cut the tip out of the feather, place then feather over the eye pointing to the rear and , with your thread wrap, sort of spin it around the hook.
    There appreciate videos on this technique. I think Craig Matthews has a video on the technique......

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    New York
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    Quote Originally Posted by Ray Kunz View Post
    You just woke me up. How do you tie in by the tip and then put the hackle pliers on the tip?
    Ray,

    I read and reread that twice. Just as confused as you and so I didn't answer the question.
    Melk - Please clarify, maybe we'll understand your dilemma a little better and be able to respond.

    Allan

  7. #7

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    agree that partridge hackles are very delicate. If you have a rotary vise, I sometimes tie in the hackle, clamp my hackle pliers onto the stem and let it hang then rotate the vise.

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