I hate dry flies!!!!!!!!!!&#33

[Big J 0]

I have been getting into trout streams and love fishing dries on small brook trout streams! So I thought I'd try tying a few dries and came to the conclusion that I HATE TYING DRY FLIES! Wrapping hackle on a size 14 hook just ticks me off! Any help would be great! I have been trying to tie a Royal Wulff :wallbash:

[Brian Brown75 0]

Try stroking back the fibres as you wrap and when your done wrapping them, stroke them forward, it works for me and always has :headbang:

[rockworm 0]

Tying the collar on a dry fly is easiest if the rachis (stem) of your feather is thin. Genetic saddle feathers have the thinnest rachis. Genetic cock neck is a close second. If your feather has a pronounced taper, strip off the fibers from the bottom part and tye it in where the rachis is thin. (You may only use half the feather, but you won't hate tying dry flies any more.)

 

Occassionally you get a cape where the feathers have twisted stems. Fortunately this doesn't happen much with genetic birds. But you find it frequently with chinese- and other non-genetic necks. These are a real pain. If this is your problem, I suggest you set aside your problem cape and buy something easier to work with.

[Dezod 0]

Make sure you are tying the shiny side of the feather towards you when you tie the hackle in. By doing this you usually keep the feather fiber ends pointing slightly back. Also less wraps the better in my book. I used to try to stuff 6-8 wraps onthe hook, 4 behind the wing and four in front, which caused me to be upset and disappointed. When I started wrapping less wraps it turned out better for me.

 

Hope this helps. Pretty soon you'll be tying #22 BWO drys

 

C

[Big J 0]

Thanks guys, I'm going to give it another go.

[DrVette 0]

Start with an easier pattern till you get use to tying in the hackles. My teacher started us on Renegades so that we were learning twice as fast to tie in the hackles. Don't worry about having exact white and brown hackles...they will work on almost any color. Around here we use 2 grizzly hackles and call them "dead chickens". size 14-18 seem to be the trout's favorite.

[Bruce Derington 0]

My question is,how many dries (total) have you tied? If the Royal Whulff is the first dry you've tried tying thst can be your problem. Learning the dos and don'ts is a progressive thing and when it comes to flies such as these, proportions are very important. Maybe you could provide a photo, this way suggestions would be easier for us to comment on.

In regards of the proper way to tie in the hackle that can be further discussed. I personally tie the hackle to the dull side faces towards the eye and tied behind the wings, also making sure that the barbules are stripped so when tied in there is enough bare rachis to go 1/2 around before any barbule comes in contact with the hook. This keeps the first turn of hackle from "kicking back" or laying down(where barbules sort point to back of hook). anyway, back to the dull side forward, This gives an appearance of the hackle to slightly "cup forward" which helps the fly sit higher in the water>

Only a different suggestion, but what I know for sure is you simply need to crank out a bunch and pay particular attention to proportions.

[Big J 0]

I'm kinda new to dries and have tied some, but not many at all. Any good patterns to start out with?

[fly_fischa 0]

Hi Big J,

 

Good materials/hackle always help, get the best you can, it doe's make a difference. If you can get someone to show you/teach you, all the better.

Start with basic patterns, I used to practice hackling an entire hook when I started.

 

Wrap an even thread base onto the shank of a hook from the eye to the hook point, tie in the hackle and try to wind touching turns to the eye covering the whole shank. If you're not happy with it razor blade it and try again.

 

A good reference book is also a great help and I can think of none better than Charlie Cravens book.

 

It's the most involved thorough how to book with no skipped steps, followed up with great clear photography. Covers everything that matters including Parachute, Palmer and Standard dry fly hackling.

The title is a little deceptive as there's a lot to be learnt even by advanced tiers, worth every cent.

Link to a review on Charlie Cravens book

 

You can buy it on the hatchesmagazine shop

Here's the link charlie craven's basic flytying

Hope that helps buddy, keep trying you'll get there

[notenuftoys 0]

I still don't like tying dry flies much, but after some practice I'm confident I can. The pattern I started with was a blue wing olive. Very simple pattern, used all the time, and if it's close the fish probably won't care.

[narcodog 0]

I would suggest that you start with a larger fly like a Hendrickson or Cahill.

 

Get good hackle like Whiting, jimsflyco, Collins and of course there are others.

 

Just practice tying on the hackle, no other material. Tie on the hackle with the shinny side toward you and the tip pointing towards the read. Use three wraps, to secure the hackle. move your thread forward, wrap the hackle and tie off using three wraps. Snip off the stem then a couple of more wraps.

Look up some youtube video's.

[btrout 0]

I have been getting into trout streams and love fishing dries on small brook trout streams! So I thought I'd try tying a few dries and came to the conclusion that I HATE TYING DRY FLIES! Wrapping hackle on a size 14 hook just ticks me off! Any help would be great! I have been trying to tie a Royal Wulff :wallbash:

 

I have been tying Comparadun dry flies for years, no hackle, they float for ever can be tied in any color, are quick to tie, cheap to tie and most important are extremely effective, give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

[onceahoosier 0]

An easy starter dry is the Elk Hair Caddis. Also very effective here in the west. For Mayfly patterns, I like tying parachute patterns, particularly the Parachute Adams. Probably not easier than the regular hackle patters you're trying now. You could also try no-hackle flies, like a Comparadun. I find dries challenging too, certainly more of a challenge than nymphs. Good luck.

 

Tom

[Big J 0]

I find dries challenging too, certainly more of a challenge than nymphs. Good luck.

 

Tom

 

I hear ya on that! I enjoy tying nymphs all day long! And thanks for the advice everyone. I finally tied two Royal Wulff's I was happy with. I may try some elk caddis and try some easier dry flies this weekend. Is the Orvis brand hackle good stuff? Cause that's the hackle I have right now and it is the hackle the local fly shop carries.

[fiShawn 0]

depends on if its a saddle or genetic hackle....I prefer the stiffer barbs found on genetic neck hackle.....and like these guys say, less is definitely more when it comes to a dry fly hackle. tying a hackle on hair wings found on the royal wulff can be difficult due to the bulk of the hair wing...however, I like to minimize the amount of hair used and taper the tie in point, also building a small base of thread in front of the wings (4-5 wraps) can ease the wrapping of the hackle. Try a stimulator or two....the design of the fly demands well placed ,splayed hackle wraps and kinda gives you a better idea of what you're doing visually.