Dry fly hackle question

[Quade]

I am wondering how to measure the hackle for a dry fly since I dont have a hackle gauge. This may have already been answered before but I am not sure. Thanks in advance.

[Steven]

I am wondering how to measure the hackle for a dry fly since I dont have a hackle gauge. This may have already been answered before but I am not sure. Thanks in advance.

If you're trying to tie a Catskill-type dry, you basically want a feather with barb length = to about 1.5x the hook gape. Easiest way is to take the feather under the hook shank and pull up the tip and butt, with the feather against the under side of the shank. Eyeball the length of the hackles sticking straight down vis a vis the hook shank.

[skondolf]

A recent thread here ...

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/s...ad.php?t=27673

I like tying my Catskill dry flies using 2x the hook gap rather than 1.5. Nothing wrong with 1.5 but I personally like a little longer hackle.

My personal favorite way to measure hackle - use a 3x5 index card (you'll see it discussed in the above thread). Simple, cheap and very accurate because you're tailoring your guage to the hook you use. Takes all of 5 minutes to create. I have mine thumbtacked to my tying desk.

[alra195]

The link below has the most useful set of gauges I've every had the opportunity to use.

Cut and paste them into a word document, print, and then laminate. They work great for dries, wets, streamers, all sorts of stuff. I found the price to be right also!

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flyt...112904fotw.php

[Quade]

This has been a lot of help.

[hackleman57]

Quade, most of the 'Pros' I've seen tie choose the hackle by bending it around the shank of the hook and guess at 1 1/2 times the hook gap. They do this while the feather is still on the cape. If it looks pretty good, they'll detach the feather and use it. Do this as soon as you put the hook in the vise. Hope that helps a bit too.


Ron