Using Rea Feathers and the likes

[Rp3flyfisher 0]

As many of you know, I have been tying for many years, but have stuck to Trout flies, and some Salmon/Steelhead flies.

 

I have started to tie intruders and a few other types of flies, but I am not liking the way my Ostrich and Rea feathers are laying on the flies.

 

I have tried to do the dubbing loop thing, and it works OK for me, but I do know that you can strip the rea and Ostrich feathers and tie them in and palmer them.

 

My question is this;

 

Every time i try to peel the feather, it rips/tears. what is a good way to soften the feathers without changing the color and suppleness of it?

 

I have been told to soak the feather in water with a bit of hair conditioner, what do you guys think? What do you do? I don't want to pay the big bucks for Rea, try the conditioner thing and waste the feather.

 

Any recommendations would be AWESOME!!!!

 

Thanks Guys/Gals

 

Rick

 

[perchjerker 0]

I am sorry, but I don't fully understand your situation, and therefore your question. Are you simply trying to remove the herl from the quill; or are you trying to remove the barbules from the herl? If the former, simply cutting them off should do it for you, just like cutting the herl from peacock. If you are talking about 'stripping' the herl, as with peacock, for quill bodies, I don't personally think wetting and using a fabric softener would be the solution. Also, I gather you are trying to save the 'fluff' to use as dubbing; or ar eyou trying to get the small quill for quill type bodies? If you can be a little more specific with respect to what it is you are trying to accomplish would be helpful.

 

I have used a lot of ostrich herl, but only as a collar on nymphs, etc., in which case you simply cut it off the quill and palmer the small herl and tie it off.

 

I must confess that I am not familiar with the type of fly (intruders) you are trying to tie.

 

perchjerker

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

if my ostrich or rea is breaking when stripping I usually steam it a bit that usually softens it up enough to tie with

[Rp3flyfisher 0]

I am sorry, but I don't fully understand your situation, and therefore your question. Are you simply trying to remove the herl from the quill; or are you trying to remove the barbules from the herl? If the former, simply cutting them off should do it for you, just like cutting the herl from peacock. If you are talking about 'stripping' the herl, as with peacock, for quill bodies, I don't personally think wetting and using a fabric softener would be the solution. Also, I gather you are trying to save the 'fluff' to use as dubbing; or ar eyou trying to get the small quill for quill type bodies? If you can be a little more specific with respect to what it is you are trying to accomplish would be helpful.

 

I have used a lot of ostrich herl, but only as a collar on nymphs, etc., in which case you simply cut it off the quill and palmer the small herl and tie it off.

 

I must confess that I am not familiar with the type of fly (intruders) you are trying to tie.

 

perchjerker

 

Intruders;

 

 

What I am wanting to do is Wrap the Rea Feather like you would with Guinea Fowl or when Tying Popsicle Leeches (With Marabou)

 

My Issue has been that when trying to strip the Rea or Ostrich from off the main Quill, but leaving a skinny piece of the Quill to allow the individual strand to stay together so that they can be wrapped.

 

Hope this explanation helps.

 

Rick

 

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

use a razorblade and split the quill like you would a ruffed grouse tail for a bread crust then clean the marrow the same way

[perchjerker 0]

As many of you know, I have been tying for many years, but have stuck to Trout flies, and some Salmon/Steelhead flies.

 

I have started to tie intruders and a few other types of flies, but I am not liking the way my Ostrich and Rea feathers are laying on the flies.

 

I have tried to do the dubbing loop thing, and it works OK for me, but I do know that you can strip the rea and Ostrich feathers and tie them in and palmer them.

 

My question is this;

 

Every time i try to peel the feather, it rips/tears. what is a good way to soften the feathers without changing the color and suppleness of it?

 

I have been told to soak the feather in water with a bit of hair conditioner, what do you guys think? What do you do? I don't want to pay the big bucks for Rea, try the conditioner thing and waste the feather.

 

Any recommendations would be AWESOME!!!!

 

Thanks Guys/Gals

 

Rick

 

 

Perhaps if you could elaborate more precisely what it is you are having trouble with, someone could offer some suggestions. In an attempt to explain my comment, I will use a peacock tail feather as an example. If you are trying to remove the herl, simply cut it off. If you are talking about the flues on the herl, I have no suggestions (I use the intact herl) other than that you might try one of the various techniques for removing the flues from peacock herl, such as scarping off with a fingernail, razor blade, or with the eraser on a pencil. If you are having trouble wrapping the herl, soak them in warm water with a little glycerin added; 8-10 drops per cup of water.

 

Any liquid you apply to the feather is going to change the 'color' slightly, but only until it dries, even if the feather has been dyed. It must be remembered that if the feathers change color permanently under such circumstances, they will also change color when fished. The fabric conditioners are typically used to soften feathers, etc. prior to dyeing. so they should have no adverse effect.

 

I am unfamiliar with "the intruder series", and can not offer any more help than this.

 

perchjerker

 

[perchjerker 0]

Please accept my apology for the redundancy! My computer showed absolutely no responses to the query until AFTER i had posted my second response; and, unfortunately, there seems to be no way to delete such a redundant response.

 

I now understand what it is you are trying to do. I am not sure than softening the quill would be an advantage, as I would think this would make it more flexible, and therefore, more difficult to control while splitting with a razor blade or scalpel. Just my $0.02 on this.

 

perchjerker

[FishAholic85 0]

Hey Rick,

riffleriversteelheadslayer pretty much nailed it on the head so to speak.

 

If you want you could post this topic on Speypages, since those boys eat and breath all things spey including flies. :headbang:

http://speypages.com/speyclave/showthread.php?t=44168

 

Cheers,

FA85

[Silver Doctor 0]

I've never had to soak my Rea before stripping each side. Don't start at the tip but about and inch and a half down. Grab the top of the Rea (the tip part) between you right thumb and index finger and do the same with the herl portion of the other side. Keep your two thumbs against each other and "roll" your thumbs against each other as you split the herl. Reposition your hands and do it again. You will get a perfect split this way. I usually split a few dozen this way watching TV in the evening. Hope it makes sense.

[Rp3flyfisher 0]

I've never had to soak my Rea before stripping each side. Don't start at the tip but about and inch and a half down. Grab the top of the Rea (the tip part) between you right thumb and index finger and do the same with the herl portion of the other side. Keep your two thumbs against each other and "roll" your thumbs against each other as you split the herl. Reposition your hands and do it again. You will get a perfect split this way. I usually split a few dozen this way watching TV in the evening. Hope it makes sense.

 

Makes perfect sense, but that is what I have tried and it seems like the Rea "Center Quill" is britle and breaks when I try this. Maybe I am just trying to rip it to fast?

 

I think I will give it another shot this way, just need to slow down I guess.

 

I have also talked to a few guys locally that tie a ton of the intruder style flies and they told me a few different ways as well.

 

-One was to soak the Feather in some warm water for 10-15 minutes, strip the sides and let dry before using.

-The other was to place a razor blade in your vice, get the center of the quill over it and carefully split it down the quill with the blade.

 

I will give these a try if the above does not do it for me.

 

Thanks for ALL the replies.

 

Rick

[Silver Doctor 0]

Yea for the first few really take your time and concentrate. after that you will get the feel and it will get easy. Just to add that the reason we Strip the sides and wrap as opposed to clipping the rhea off is that when wrapping this way it flairs out straight instead of lying flay like with a dubbing loop for more action.