Soft Hackle Help

[AlanB]

The main problem I see with tyers tryng soft hackle for the first time is using too much hackle.
Strip all the barbles off of one side of the feather. Tie in the feather by the tip and then wrap around shank.
Sparse is the key.

Must admit that I never use or recommend this practise. If you can double the hackle and take fewer turns then do. By stripping the stem on one side. you need twice the length of stem to get the same number of barbs. That will result in an over sized head. Especially as the stem on a partridge hackle tapers so steeply.
Cheers,
A.