In fly tying, and “Improved Method of Winging Upright Duns,”
advocated by Frederic M. Halford in Floating Flies and
How to Dress Them (1886). This simple, practical method creates
a compact wing base while avoiding wing-barb breaks.
First, create a thread base by overwrapping the forward
third of the shank. Then select two matching wing panels. Cut them
to width with stem sections attached. The attached stem sections
lock the barbs together during mounting.Mount the matched wings with the base pointing forward
and the front edge pointing up. Wing length should equal shank
length. Pass two thread wraps over the wings to compress the
barbs directly on top of the shank.Then fold the winged stumps (the stemmed base) back on
their respective sides and rotate the wing up.
Wrap the thread directly behind the wings while erecting them.
The wings are now caught in a “basket.” The basket base should be
kept as small as possible. Finally, for a smoothly tapered underbody,
trim both wing stumps diagonally and overwrap with flat thread.~ Darrel Martin
If you have any tips or techniques, send them along, most of this
material has been stolen from somebody, might as well steal your ideas
too! ~ George E. Emanuel
(Chat Room Host Muddler)
Originally published January 14, 2001 on Fly Anglers Online by Darrel Martin.