V-hackle dry fly

All about flies Fly Tying
1

hi,

I’m reading Selective Trout - Swisher & Richards. its a great book.

They mention a v-hackle pattern, and describe how to tie.  I can't find a picture to visualize what this looks like.  Can anyone point me to a photo or drawing?

Thanks!

John

2

Isnt that where you wrap the hackle as you normally would and then clip a v notch in the bottom of the fly??

3

Hi,

Its described in the book as "almost no-hackle".  I'm interested in this because its supposed to be easier to tie and more durable. I haven't developed the knack for no hackle sidewinder style wings.

“It is tied like the no-hackle except that the wings are constructed out of small shoulder feathers from the base of mallard duck wings or other game birds. These wing feathers can be burned to shape using a wing burner or cut to shape with sissors.”

“The only other difference in the tie is that one cock hackle is wound on two turns behind the wing and two turns in front of the wings, then trimmed off at the bottom and top, leaving only the side barbules.”

I'm not able to visualize the wings.  I'd appreciate it if anyone has a photo.  I'm not successfule with Google, et al.

Thanks!

4

Here are some shots posted by DonaldN elsewhere

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL170/17 … 491351.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL170/17 … 491395.jpg

The method you describe sounds like the above may answer your question.
Another option is the similarly hackled Thorax dun by Vince Marinaro.

To get four turns on the Clyde style dry just figure8 the hackle twice.
It’s impossible for me to explain here but try it- it does work- very well too.

Question, why make four turns, then overwrap and cut off the excess, …
when you can make two wraps, overwrap with the tying silk, then tweak the hackle barbs into place.

This latter(Clyde style) method saves on time, hackle and saves wearing out your scissors…
Canny guys those Scotsmen.

Roy

5

Page 4 of S&R “Tying the S&R Flies” shows a line drawing of two no-hackle flies, one with the feather slips (original?) and one using duck shoulder feathers (not much different than a hen feather-tip wing). If the hackle is then wound behind and in front of the wing and clipped top and bottom wouldn’t the resulting fly look like a spinner with wings? This variation is not listed or pictured in their book.

6

Thanks Greg! I just ordered a copy - great excuse to add to my tying collection.

7

I thought that the V-hackle dry fly was as stated, a V section trimmed out of the bottom of a hackled dry.
There is such a fly in the FOW archive - A Simple Dry/Emerger submitted by guess who.

If you want to tie a spinner pattern, there is quite an old technique from Roger Woolleys ‘Modern Trout Fly Dressing’ As follows:-

“On a bare hook wind on a good cock hackle for two or three turns as if for a plain hackled fly.
Take one, two hackle turns around the shank, tie down and trim away the surplus.
You now have a bare hook with a hackle wound around it, a hackle fly with no body.
Next, evenly divide the fibres of the hackle and stroke them into the position of the wings of
a Spent Gnat, at right angles with the hook shank.
Pressure between the thumb and forefinger will cause the fibres to remain in this position
until they are fixed by figure of eight tying. It is necessary to tie down the fibres for the wings
underneath as well as over the top of the hook shank so that the fibres stand out stiffly on
each side of the hook.
The figure of eight tying must be manipulated accordingly, tying the hackle fibres down on
the top of the hook first and then , turning the hook over, repeat the process on the under side of the hook.
The tying silk, in tying down the hackle fibres for a spent wing, also forms at the same time the thorax of the fly,
so care must be taken to use tying silk of the correct colours.
Do not get too many fibres for these wings, a bushy wing is neither needed nor desireable.”