Wonder Wings

[Crackaig 0]

This is something I did as an answer to a question in "another place", that I thought some might like to see here.

Wonder Wings

Can be tied upright but best suited to down wings.

For this I'm using a wing covert feather but you can use any feather that has equal barb lengths either side of the stem.

Remove the fibres from below the section of feather you want to make the wing from.

Draw the fibres that will form the wing, down and out to expose the stem at the tip of the wing.

Take a couple of loose (bobbin weight) turns around the stem.

Pull on the tip of the feather to draw the feather through the turns. You may have to assist this by relieving tension on the thread.

If you want a wider wing draw the stem back a fraction. Once the wing is formed pull on the bobbin to tighten the turns, take a locking turn. Trim out the excess.

The side view of just the wing.

One fly I have used for many years with a wonder wing. A Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear Caddis.

Hook: Size10 to 18 dry fly (Example is on a 16).
Thread: Any light coloured thread (I used blue dun UTC 70).
Body: Well mixed hare's ear dubbing.
Rib: Fine holographic tinsel, gold.
Wing: Greenwell's hen hackle.
Hackle: Red Game.

Though the Wonder wing isn't close to the tent shape of a caddis wing from the side it has a very good shape viewed from above and below.

You can, of course, use more than one wing as in this midge pattern (size 18)

Again a good silhouette from above and below.

Hope that is of some use to some of you.

Cheers,

C.