Byron,
I've been hackling my traditional dries with the shiny side of the hackle forward, as described in Charlie Craven's book. Easier to finish the head on small flies without need for hackle guards. I suppose traditionalists might argue this "wrong", but fish approve. Thanks for a good idea. I'm going to give it a test drive tonight.
Good fishing,
Arnie
Thanks Arnie. Let us know if it works for you!
Last edited by Byron haugh; 10-21-2013 at 02:21 AM.
Fresh from the vise just now using the method described above and the hackle shown above.
I think it makes for a much neater front of the fly.
Byron - I think it's a "neat" idea, one I haven't seen before...
If you want poorer grade hackle to "stand up better" with fewer flyers at the head, dub a slight thorax after tying in your hackle and wrap over it. On many patterns I prefer this method regardless of hackle quality.
Ralph
Ralph,
I often do that with "unruly " hackle. The fact remains, that when you tie off the hackle, you really can't help but mash the barbules at your tie off point.
With the method above, when you tie the hackle off, you are doing so on a bare stem with no barbules to trap.
This is especially true when tying a parachute. Tying off a bare stem is much cleaner....I believe.
Yes it would be, providing you are able to measure the precise amount of hackle to leave. I see myself missing that mark quite easily. LOL
Won't the use of half hitches instead of a whip finish help? To me a half hitch tool is perfect for pushing errant hackle barbs back out of the way.
Last edited by Ray Kunz; 10-26-2013 at 01:37 AM.
Instead of considering a hackle guard why not simply tie off with a half hitch tool that will let you push any errant barbs back to whatever extent you want?
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