You might try steaming the feathers in small batches or individually...this will usually soften up the stems. Do you know about "folding the hackle" once it is tyed in? On Catskill style flies, try tying one feather in front of the wings, and one in back. Wrap the front feather backwards with your bobbien behind the wings, then tye off. Wrap the back feather fowards using a rocking motion as you take turns of hackle. gently rock the thread/bobbin as you wind the thread fowward over and between the wraps of hackle. By doing this, you reinforce the hackle (more durable fly) and can manipulate wayward barbs as you go.

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