Peacock feathers are so beautiful and we all know that the side
herls make wonderful material for tying flies. But some are at a
loss on how to use the most beautiful part of the feather, the
iridescent eye of the peacock.
FreebirdsWB (Justin Millikan) asked on the Bulletin Board, "Does
anyone have any suggestins for using the multi-colored eyes? I have
a couple left over from all the herl I've used. Don't want so many
pretty colors to go to waste."
Here are some of the replies and thoughts on the subject.
Brian Aldridge and I believe the iridescent color of the eye herl
helps attract fish. Hans Weilenmann and Ronn Lucas think otherwise,
that the iridescent eye herl is lost in the water, turning solid
black (which is why Hans likes it for a wing case on a nymph).
Most agree that the eye of the peacock is the preferred material for
making striped quills for dry flies, such as the Quill Gordon. The
quills from the eye material are more flexible and less likely to
split in tying.
Some use the eye of the Peacock for flies that will never see the
water. ManicZach said, "but I will say, fly tying is not always for
fishing, some of my most perfect flies will never be fished. I keep
them for the artistic beauty . . ."
Osprey even offered to send a self-addresed, stamped envelope to
anyone who is willing to give him their unwanted peacock eyes. All
I have to say to that is, I have first dibbs.
Please check out the Fly Tying Section, in the Bulletin Board, on FAOL.
If you have any questions, tips, or techniques; send them along.
Most of this material someone else thought of it before we did,
they just forgot to tell anyone about it. Or else we just forgot
about it, while learning something else. Let us share with
each other, all the things we know! ~ Steven H.
McGarthwaite parnelli@attbi.com (Chat Room AKA Parnelli)
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