tying in hackle

[ducksterman]

When you are tying in hackle how do you decide whether to tie in by the tip or by the butt?

[Newfoundlander]

For myself I rarely tie in by the tip, usually the tip style is used for palmered flies, stones, caddis, buggers, etc. I never tie in by the tip or rarely so anyway. I always tie in by the butt section on dries such as wulffs, royals, etc, all the classic looking flies, but for the most part it boils down to what works for you I suppose.

[Hans Weilenmann]

ducksterman,

In pretty much all cases it is tie feather in by the butt for me. This applies to both wets and dries, traditional hackle or parachute.

Why by the butt? Because I think it has many, many advantages to do it such, though I also acknowledge that one can get a very decent result by tying the feather in by the tip

Cheers,
Hans W


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=== You have a friend in Low Places === [url=http://www.danica.com/flytier:0e63f]http://www.danica.com/flytier[/url:0e63f]



[This message has been edited by Hans Weilenmann (edited 15 February 2006).]

[Jayatwork]

Wetfly collars and soft hackles I tie in by the tip. Dry fly hackles I tie in by the butt. I tie most palmered hackles reversed, tied in by the butt.

Jay

[lee s]

Pretty much what tyflier says. Though we will switch according to desired effect when palmering and we sometimes strip the hook-side of a stem for the same reasons.
.....lee s.

[Garic]

partridge feathers are about the only feather I tie by the tip, due to the stem being too thick to use the butt.

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Born to fish, forced to work.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Garic,

Color me confused...

partridge feathers are about the only feather I tie by the tip, due to the stem being too thick to use the butt

The _section_ of quill to be used is determined by the desired barb length. As such the _same_ section of quill will be used, whether tied in by the tip or the butt. Same section of quill = same bulk of quill.

What am I missing?

Cheers,
Hans W


------------------
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

[Garic]

you are correct of course hans, but for me I find it easier and neater to tie them in tips first, if I tie them butt first I can never get as small and neat head to the fly.

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Born to fish, forced to work.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Garic,

You may want to try this way:

[url=http://www.danica.com/flytier/steps/poe/poe.htm:72778]http://www.danica.com/flytier/steps/poe/poe.htm[/url:72778]

No material to tie down at eye when finishing off the fly, just a three turn whip finish = very small, clean head.

Cheers,
Hans W


------------------
=== You have a friend in Low Places ===
http://www.danica.com/flytier

[Jim Hatch]

Hi Gents,

Many of my flies are warmwater efforts
with feathered tails. I often determine
how much tail I want to leave behind and
tie in one or two feathers by wetting my
fingers and pulling the barbs back for a
neat tie in and then wrap a bushy collar
forward of the tie in point with the same
feather. So I guess my answer is neither.
I tie most in the middle area with the tips
facing aft. Warm regards, Jim