With this method, the advantages are that since you
strip the feather down to the longest barbs you start with
the finished hackle length and it’s easy to gauge the final
resykts, The result of this method is a sparse hackle with
the fibers nicely distributed around the hook and swept back
over the fly…
Materials Partridge and Hare’s Ear
Hook: Mustad 94842, size 14.
Thread: Gray silk.
Ribbing: Gold wire.
Body: Hare’s mask fur from position #4 - top of head.
Hackle: Gray partridge feather.
- Prepare a gray partridge neck feather by stripping the
downy base and any barbs on both sides of the feather, down
to the longest barbs you want to include on the fly. Then
remove two barbs on the side of the feather that will be
wrapped closest to the hook shank. This allows the first
wrap around the shank to be smooth. The longest barbs left
on the feather should be slightly longer than the hook shank.
- Start the thread on the hook then tie in the feather
stem about one hook eye behind the hook eye. Wind the thread
back to the bend tying in the wire ribbing as you go. If
you are using tinsel ribbing wait and tie it in at the hook
bend. Cut the stem if necessary so that the stem doesn’t
extend past the mid point on the shank. Make sure the
thread underbody is smooth.
- At the bend tie in the pre-dubbed loop that was created
using the Leisenring dubbing technique. Hold one of the thread
ends with hackle pliers to keep it from unraveling as you tie
in the dubbing loop. Advance the thread to the point where
the feather stem emerges from under the thread wraps near
the hook eye.
- Wind the body forward spinning it a little every turn and
a half to keep it tight. Take a couple of turns with the
thread to tie off the dubbing loop. Then wind the gold wire
rib up to the point behind the hackle and tie off with two
turns of thread. Trim both the wire rib and the dubbing
loop.
- Take two wraps with the partridge feather placing the
second turn behind the first. Then tie-off the hackle with
two turns of thread. Trim the remaining feather tip.
- Pass the thread between the hackle and build up a neat
thread head.
- Whip finish and trim the thread tag end. ~ Allen
Credit: If you are interested in soft-hackle flies, this is
a book to have in your library. Tying & Fishing Soft-Hackle Nymphs,
written by Allen McGee, it includes the history of soft-hackled nymphs,
tying techniques, equipment (to fish), strategies and fly selection.
Published by Frank Amato Publications, the book sells for $24.95.
Originally published July 2, 2007 on Fly Anglers Online by Allen McGee.