Basic tying question

[emutt 0]

I'm relatively new to the fly tying world and had a basic question regarding a tying technique. What is the best way to tie down hackle once it has been wrapped? For example, when I tie the front hackle on a stimulator, it seems to want to slip or unravel a little bit. I was looking for any good anchoring techniques you may have.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

3 tight wraps is all that is needed if your slipping out of the thread sounds to me more like you are missing the stem when tying it down

[utyer 0]

Wind your hackle in the same direction as you wind your thread. Then as you wrap over the tip of the wound hackle, it will tend to tighten (rather than loosen,) the wrapped hackle. Usually three firm wraps should hold a hackle. Fold the tip back and form your head, When the head is done, then clip the hackle tip.

[mikechell 0]

Utyer's probably hit it on the head. I am fairly new to tying too. My first mistake was to wrap things in the opposite direction to the thread. I thought this would make the finishing better, but wrapping over the end of the hackle pulls it in the looser direction and ... that dog don't hunt!

[Bruce Derington 0]

I might add that two or three side by side wraps(one in front of the other) will hold down material better than 5 over wrapping turns

[Kirk Dietrich 0]

I think Utyer is right too. However, to add to that, what I do to ensure the material is wrapped tight whether it be a hackle stem or chenille, is to secure with two snug wraps and before pulling the thread tight and making the third wrap, I pull the material tight and hold it and pull the thread tight kind of simultaneously and while hold good tension on the thread, release the material and continue with one or two more tight wraps of thread. I'm often surprised at the distance the material will move to tighten when doing this after thinking I had wrapped it up tight.

 

Kirk

[kentuckytroutbum 0]

I think Utyer is right too. However, to add to that, what I do to ensure the material is wrapped tight whether it be a hackle stem or chenille, is to secure with two snug wraps and before pulling the thread tight and making the third wrap, I pull the material tight and hold it and pull the thread tight kind of simultaneously and while hold good tension on the thread, release the material and continue with one or two more tight wraps of thread. I'm often surprised at the distance the material will move to tighten when doing this after thinking I had wrapped it up tight.

 

Kirk

 

 

I agree with Utyer & Kirk, also.

 

Bill