I’m wondering what a Hackle Guard is and what it used for. I’m new to tying and was looking online at some tools and Hackle Guards were one of the tools that were offered. I’m not sure what exactly their function is or if they’re worth buying. Any info would be great.
Mark: Hackle guards are used to keep the hackle out of the way while you finish the head of the fly. You can use small pieces of a straw to accomplish this. What I did was to get several different sizes of straws like those you get with a Pepsi or use to stir coffee or a mixed drink. I cut the straws into short pieces, 1/4 inch long or so. Then before I start tying a fly I slip the thread through the straw and let the straw ride on the bobbin. When I am ready to finish the fly I run the straw up the thread and push the hackle out of the way.
Hope this helps.
Tim Anderson
Mark,
A Hackle Guard is a tool to keep materials (generally a wound hackle) out of the way, mostly at the stage or completing the fly with the finishing knot.
The tool could be anything from commercial offerings to home-grown items such as a short section of a drinking straw or a rubber disk with a slit in it.
I do not use them. I have my own ‘on board’ hackle guard in the form of a triangle fashioned by the tips of thumb, index and middle finger of the non-bobbin hand.
Cheers,
Hans W
A hackle guard is a round metal tool, with a hole in the middle, and a split from the edge to the hole. It’s meant to put on the hook right behind the eye, to hold the hackle out of the way when tying off the head. The same effect can be achieved by a TINY bit of spit on your fingers, and smoothing the hackle out of the way, then holding it there while you tie off the head. Another thing that works well, is a small square of the plastic bag that the Sunday paper comes in (for some unknown reason the Sunday wrapper is thicker than the daily). Put a small hole in the center of the square, pop it oveer the eye, and hold back the hackle smoothly. Actually learned that last one from Mike George, a technique he uses to tie off deer hair flies.
If you do chose to use a straw…consider slitting the straw longitudinally then you can slip the straw over the fly when the time comes to tie the head and you don’t have to mess with threading it on the bobbin or even remembering to.
I appreciate all the replies. I had a feeling that’s what it was used for. I guess I should look around the house for any alternatives before buying one (the wife will appreciate that). Thanks again.
Hans has the answer. If you learn to use the one you were born with, you won’t have to mess with metal disks and straws and such.
I also believe that the bent-up sheet metal ones are a waste but a half-hitch tool with the hole in the end will do fine if you get one with the hole larger in diameter than the fly head. A couple quick half hitches with this to get errant hackle out of the way followed with your whip finish will do fine.