I have the problem whenever I tie a parachute pattern that when tying off the hackle or whip finishing, I often tie down some of the hackle fibers over the eye, no matter how careful I am to pull the hackle back. How do you all keep the parachute hackle from getting caught in these final wraps? Thanks for any help!
I wrap the hackle with the dull side up so the fibers “cup” up, tie off the hackle with a few wraps at the base of the post, then double half-hitch at the eye. Keeps from trapping any fibers at the eye; haven’t had any fail this way.
Regards,
Scott
Thanks ScottP, I’ll have to give that a shot.
Wrap the hackle counter-clockwise looking down from the top. The fibers will be angled away from you, at the eye. When you wrap and whip finish the head, angle the thread 45 degrees, as you wrap over the top. The fibers get brushed out of the way by the thread and don’t get trapped.
Whip finish around the base of the post. Problem solved.
use super glue. another way to solve the problem
I use Hans Van Klinken’s method for whip finishing around the post. It makes the whip finish feel natural and easier to do.
Some of the time I do catch some fibers under the thread but they are never around the eye of the hook. Any trapped fibers are easy to trim off if you want to trim them off since they are not over the eye of the hook.
http://www.rackelhanen.se/eng/10110.htm - see step eight for tying then Klinkhamer Special
Give it a try you may finb you like it also.
Bucky,
Picture is worth a thousand words and a video is even better (btw - it’s Charlie Craven):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_XZlX0mau0
Regards,
Scott
I’m with Normand. Here’s how I do it. First step is to tie in the post/wing. Reinforce the base of the post with several wraps of thread, and add a tiny bit of super glue to the wraps. Tie in the tails and dub the body right up to the head. Tie in the hackle at the base of the post. let the thread hang over the back side of the post. Take the fly out of the vise, and reinsert it 90 deg from the original position, head down. wrap the thread to the top of the post. Wrap the hackle, first wrap tight to the body, and wrap to the top of the post. Tie off hackle, clip off excess. At this point, you could half hitch the thread to the post, but it really isn’t needed. Put a small amount of super glue at the tie off point, and allow a minute to dry. Cut off thread, and the fly is done. I tie down to size #26 with this method, and find the resulting flies to be effective and durable, as well as quick and easy to tie.
Another vote for tying of at the post.
Even the great Charlie Craven does this now - check out his site…
http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/detail.cfm?parentID=131
I don’t bother to glue them any more but I used to use “Griffiths thin” head cement. after finishing the knot. It wicks all the way into the thread without leaving any build up on the hackle fibers. I think that is what Charlie uses. … if my memory serves me correctly.
The coolest trick I’ve seen for whip finishing a parachute pattern was shown to me by a friend. Take a very short section of drinking straw. Drinking straws come in varying sizes (diameter), so find one that is right for the size fly your tying. After using this method for some time, I’ve found what size diameter straw works for certain size flies. Put the small piece of straw onto your bobbin before you ever start tying. It will stay on the stem of the bobbin until time to finish the fly. Once ready to whip finish, slide the small section of straw up the thread and over the hackle and post. The straw will hold back the hackle fibers revealing a clean head to tie off on. Very simple.
Thanks for all for all of the suggestions everyone! Looks like I’ve got a few new methods to try out 
AK Best method:
- Wrap clockwise
- After you’re done wrapping, hold the hackle tip to the rear of the hook with your right hand (assuming right-hand tyer).
- With the left, pull back on the hackle collar and the hackle tip at the same time
- After pulling back with the left, pull the tip forward with the right (but do not let go with the left). A “v” should form in the barbs between where the barbs are trapped in the left and the barbs that are now facing forward. If there are some barbs just barely trapped in the left, use a bodkin to pick them out to face forward.
- Wrap twice over the resulting “v.”
- Tie off (or dub further if you like a dubbed thorax and then tie off.
I use a half hitch tool to push the hackle up and out of the way. That allows me to get the thread underneath the hackle. Probably not an elegant solution, but it it is quick and easy.