Misterpaul,

I always catch a few fibers from the hackle when I tie it off. Happens. I don't worry about it, takes too much time to try to avoid it. Not a problem, though, if you finish the fly properly.

First, I just cut the excess hackle stem. Then, I use three fingers of my left hand to pull ALL the hackle fibers back, even those trapped under the tie off wrap. A few tight wraps of thread right against the front of the hackle, form the head, then a whip finish, and everything is where it's supposed to be. Takes less time to do it than to type it.

Buddy