Hackled dries

[RL]

I thought i'd ask the experts on this: when tying tiny dry flies, how can you tie off the hackle without wrapping down on some of the previously wound hackle barbs? it makes my dries look bad, and is very discouraging. Any suggestions?



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RL

[LWilliams]

Pull the hackle fibers back with your fingers or use a hackle guard.

[hikepat]

Use a small section of a drinking straw for larger flies or section of plastic tube from a q-tip for smaller flies with a slit in the bottom for the thread to be pulled through as a inexpensive hackle gaurd. Leave the straw or tube in place when putting on the head cement as well to keep the cement off the hackles and just throw the straw out when it gets to much goo on it.
You can also use heat shrink tubing of diffrent sizes in the same way.

[RL]

Thanks All!!!!!!!



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RL