Yarn Wing Substitution

[NJTroutbum]

Actually, I personally have not found that to be the case. I prefer a standard wrap.

[Byron haugh]

Personally, I haven't done the side-by-side comparisons to answer that question. However, I will cast my lot with Gary Borger who used the X wrap method because having half the hackling oriented to the rear and half to the front provided a more stable platform for the high wing used in the Yarn Wing Dun.

It certainly makes sense to me. Remember, Marinaro used the X hackling method in his thorax duns which had quite high wings and needed extra stability. He also believed, Marinaro, that such hackling produced a more realistic footprint on the water. Although at first he decried cutting the hackle, he eventually came to accept it vs. achieving the fiber length difference by hackle selection.

One of Marinaro's patterns with the X wrapped hackling.

[NJTroutbum]

I've tied and fished the thorax patterns extensively over the years. Even tied the LTD originally with x-wraps. And I found the standard collar when clipped kept the fly level and more stable. When using a full upright wing, the unclipped x-wr?p shines however. Just my personal opinion.