Tying in a hackle

[spinsheet 0]

Is there a general rule as to when you tie in a hackle feather from the tip end or the base? I've seen both techniques used and wasn't sure if it was simply a matter of preference or if there was something more to it.

[phg 0]

There's lots of general rules.

 

I generally tie in by the tip if I am going to palmer from back to front. I tie in by the base if I'm going to palmer from front to back. If you look closely at a hackle, you will see that the barbs have a slight bend to them, as well as a shiny side and a dull side. If you tie in with the shiny side facing the front of the fly, the hackle barbs will lean toward the rear. If you tie in with the shiny side facing the rear then the the barbs will lean forward. On most palmered flies, I want the hackle leaning back.

 

For dry flies, I tie in by the base with the shiny side forward, but that's just a preference. Other tiers tie in by the tip with the dull side forward, so the hackle will lean toward the eye of the hook.

 

When I hackle wet flies, I tie in by the tip, but still with the shiny side forward.

 

It's really, whatever is comfortable for you, and gives you the results you want.

[Bugsy 0]

About the only hackle I tie in by the tip is saddle and schlappen used for collars on salmon/steelhead flies. I will also tie in by the tip when palmering a hackle through the body on these same flies.

 

With some exceptions, I generally secure the hackle by the butt on trout dries, nymphs and streamers.

[flytire 0]

tying in a hackle by the tip en or by the butt end depends on the style of fly being tied and by the individual fly tyer.

 

there is no right or wrong way. experiment tying them in both ways the judge for yourself which is better for YOU.

[Jaydub 0]

My preferences are:

 

By the butt: Dry fly collars and reverse palmers from front to back.

 

By the tip: Wet fly/nymph collars and palmered hackles from back to front