Quill Body question

[williamhj 0]

I've been reading about tying quill body dry flies and am wondering what folks like to use. Do you have a preferred hackle or turkey biots or other things I've never heard of?

 

I read one of AK best's books and have been messing around trying to learn some of his patterns - getting excited for warmer weather.

 

Thanks,

 

William

[flyfishing99 0]

I've been reading about tying quill body dry flies and am wondering what folks like to use. Do you have a preferred hackle or turkey biots or other things I've never heard of?

 

I read one of AK best's books and have been messing around trying to learn some of his patterns - getting excited for warmer weather.

 

Thanks,

 

William

 

 

You can use either goose or turkey biot. The turkey biots are longer and therefore easier to tie - especially size 14 or larger flies!!

[flytire 0]

biots are not really "quills" but they can be used for dry fly bodies. use the longer turkey biots as stated above. if you are reading AK's books then you should know that he used stripped hackle stems for his dry flies. another one to use is the stripped peacock herl use for bodies as in the quill gordon.

[sandflyx 0]

Quill "Z" floats and is able to take colors.

[mvendon 0]

Hi William,

 

For AK type body flies I use those D's Quills that are ready for use and already dyed. You do have to soak them before useing so they're nice and pliable. I usually don't use two quills for each fly much anymore either like AK does in his books. I tie mostly parachute patterns too. There's other things you can use also, like porcupine quills, peccary hair, & moose mane.

 

Regards,

Mark

[williamhj 0]

Thanks for the advice. I tried using some hackle I had but the colors weren't right so got turkey biots. They work, but I wanted to try quills. I found some of D's Quills online, I like the color options so will give them a try.

 

thanks again

[DeweyGreen 0]

I've only tied Quill gordans and used peacock quills that I stripped myself. I think I'm gonna have to try some of those "D"s quills.

[Pamike 0]

Look for some select peacock eyes and strip the quills with a erases or a bleach bath. Those eye pisses are where the light and dark contrast comes from.

[Pamike 0]

Look for some select peacock eyes and strip the quills with a erases or a bleach bath. Those eye pisses are where the light and dark contrast comes from.

 

[dryfly86 0]

<img src="http://i918.photobucket.com/albums/ad26/mbeckley1/Fly%20Fishing/2011-03-31_11-17-25_757.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" /><!--quoteo(post=461449:date=Apr 1 2011, 09:51 PM:name=Pamike)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pamike @ Apr 1 2011, 09:51 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=461449"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Look for some select peacock eyes and strip the quills with a erases or a bleach bath. Those eye pisses are where the light and dark contrast comes from.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

i always use peacock eyes but for some reason i cannot get that light/dark barring is their something that i need to do ie; dye or bleach them

[dryfly86 0]

does anyoneknow how u get that light/dark barring on peacock eyes when i try i always get that black /brown barring is there something i need to do ie; dye them or bleach them

[Crackaig 0]

Unfortunately the length of the barred area is only 1 to 1 1/2 inches long in the centre of the eye. You are possibily using the tip section of the quill. Look closely at the quill you have and you will see the light and dark colouration towards the base (Stem end). Either that or it isn't a herl from the eye.

 

Fortunately I have a supply of quite good peacock. I use the herl off the feather then once all the usable herl is gone bleach the eye to strip it. The best herls for peacock bodies are found just below the eye.

Cheers,

C.

[mvendon 0]

does anyoneknow how u get that light/dark barring on peacock eyes when i try i always get that black /brown barring is there something i need to do ie; dye them or bleach them

 

Hi dryfly86,

 

The eye feathers that have the most or best light/dark contrast are typically also the longest tail feathers on a peacock. They are usually 45 - 50" in total length and are at the very back of the tail. They also have the largest eyes, that average about 2 inches across right at the eye, and that doesn't include the fringe herl that keeps going. Unfortunately, flyshops don't sell them based on stem length. Not every large eye feather is the same either. Some are quite a bit more white on the back of the eye, and they're the ones that you want. The more white, the more contrast. If you just order eyes online, it's a real crapshoot. If you can find a shop that sells only large eyes, your chances are way better. Look for large eye feathers that are worn, or look bald at the very top right above the eye. These have been dragged around on the ground since they're the very back ones on the tail. To check for whiteness, you just look at the back of the eye, and push the quills a little sideways between your thumb and index finger under a bright light. It's better if you have a good one to begin with for comparison, but it's not rocket science.

 

If you want to avoid all that hassle, Performance Flies has them already stripped and in different colors. These are good, but they still contain several quills per pack that just have so so contrast. Here's the link http://www.performanceflies.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=159

 

Here's an example of the type of eye feather to look for that I described above. They're on a standard size sheet of paper. The small one in the lower middle is useless for stripped bodies. The middle top one is from a place that pampers them in the northwest, so it's herl is intact at the top.

 

Regards,

Mark

 

[McGnat 0]

You will also find that if you are using peacock and you coat the quill section of the finished fly with head cement or superglue, if you really want it bomb proof, it will bring out the contrast in the quill.

[dryfly86 0]

does anyoneknow how u get that light/dark barring on peacock eyes when i try i always get that black /brown barring is there something i need to do ie; dye them or bleach them

 

Hi dryfly86,

 

The eye feathers that have the most or best light/dark contrast are typically also the longest tail feathers on a peacock. They are usually 45 - 50" in total length and are at the very back of the tail. They also have the largest eyes, that average about 2 inches across right at the eye, and that doesn't include the fringe herl that keeps going. Unfortunately, flyshops don't sell them based on stem length. Not every large eye feather is the same either. Some are quite a bit more white on the back of the eye, and they're the ones that you want. The more white, the more contrast. If you just order eyes online, it's a real crapshoot. If you can find a shop that sells only large eyes, your chances are way better. Look for large eye feathers that are worn, or look bald at the very top right above the eye. These have been dragged around on the ground since they're the very back ones on the tail. To check for whiteness, you just look at the back of the eye, and push the quills a little sideways between your thumb and index finger under a bright light. It's better if you have a good one to begin with for comparison, but it's not rocket science.

 

If you want to avoid all that hassle, Performance Flies has them already stripped and in different colors. These are good, but they still contain several quills per pack that just have so so contrast. Here's the link http://www.performanceflies.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=159

 

Here's an example of the type of eye feather to look for that I described above. They're on a standard size sheet of paper. The small one in the lower middle is useless for stripped bodies. The middle top one is from a place that pampers them in the northwest, so it's herl is intact at the top.

 

Regards,

Mark

 

thank you very much mark much appreicated i think maybe a hat or hobbie shop will b my best bet for these will be scouring the country this w/end lol !