I’ve been trying to tie up some SHWAPFs like Al Campbell shows in his beginning fly tying series. He says in step 7 to “Try to get the hair to flair completely and evenly around the fly.” I’m having a hard time with that. The hair keeps getting in my way when I tie off and mostly the hair is all on top of the hook. If any of you guys have any tips on that, I’d appreciate it. Maybe I’m not holding my mouth right and all I need is more practice, but it seems like it should be an easy tie, but I’m getting frustrated with it.
thanks in advance,
hNt
I don’t have a suggestion. The ones I tie use angel hair fibers for the back and wing, and I sort of like to keep that spread over the back, rather than around the entire fly.
Very interesting question, though, and now I wanna hear the answer too! ;o)
Yup! It’s all in how you hold your mouth!!
After you’ve brought the hair forward, and tied it off, fold it back over the threads and gently smoosh the hair down and around the fly, with your thumb and forefinger. Hold it there while you tie it down, then smooth the hair evenly around the fly. I can promise you, it’ll be one of those lightbulb moments … all of a sudden it’ll hit you.
<I think I described it with language Al would have used!!>
Jason,
Try this:
If you are right handed, take your right hand thumb and push the hair back and down which should make the material flatten out on the back of the fly and flair out on both sides and then take your left hand thumb and finger and put your thumb on the side facing you and your finger on the opposite side and push down and hold. Then you can make a couple wraps with the bobbin thread to hold everything in place so that you can do a whipfinish.
Hope that helps…
You ever wanted to smack yourself in the side of the head for being so stupid??? I guess I was trying to make it entirely to difficult, and it is so simple. I’m embarassed I even asked that question now. Thanks for the help though. 
hNt
Use a small diamater straw. Slide about 1/4 inch of soda straw onto your bobbin barrel before you start the fly When you tie off the front, slide the straw up onto the fly, flaring the hair back along the back. Tie off as desired. Works well as a hackle guard as well, and for soft hackles, etc.
Use different diameters for smaller and larger flies.
If you want to make it even more difficult, you could always go to the Advance Section of Al Campbells Fly Tying series and do the Pot Weave for the SHWAPF, or you could do a couple of loose wraps around the head of the shank, and then primp the hair hackle into position, then apply pressure with your finger tips, and then (only then) apply tension to the thread and secure the hair wing in its final position. ~Parnelli
SHWAPF was the “Go To” fly at the South Dakota Black Hills Fish In, back in 1999. Along with my Orange and White Killer Nymph which I posted on the Fly Tying Board of FAOL, and couple months back. ~Parnelli
I sat right next to Al and he tied one for me. (that fly will never get wet) He was a wizard at the vise and made the whole process look simple. But, I can’t for the life of me, get it right either. I’ll keep trying though. He did mention that he often used badger hair for the wing. I have a complete tube cut badger hide but can’t bring myself to use it.