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Johnw1986

Featherwing streamers

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Does anyone have a good meathod for tying Featherwing streamers? Im trying to tie some but the feathers are going anywhere but where I position them

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all depends of what kind of featherwing streamer and how many components in the wing are youre talking about and how much effort you want to spend to get it right

 

prepare the left wing and righ wing seperately by glueing feathers together

 

copy-of-carrie-stevens-patterns-001.jpg

 

featherwing streamers

 

https://www.flytyer.com/lore-classic-featherwing/2/

 

https://donbastianwetflies.com/category/fly-tying-dvds/traditional-streamers-and-bucktails/page/1/

 

https://www.flytyer.com/feather-wing-perfection/

 

https://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/general-fly-tying-discussions/106640-wet-streamer-tie-along-28.html

 

http://streamers365.com/wing-things/

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Let me add to Flytire's excellent tip - BTW this method is how Carrie Stevens tied her streamers.

 

1) With Carrie Stevens patterns the material is not all tied in at the head. End the body, say 1/2" from the eye on a size #6 hook. Tie on underbelly of deer hair. Tie on peacock herl underwing forward of that. Tie on throat forward of that - leaving room for the head. So each material has its own tie in spot, never bunching up. This avoids the bunched materials interfering with the wing feathers.

2) Ensure the thread base you will be tying the feather stems on to is smooth and tapered. Do this by untwisting thread (work's with Danville 6/0 - 70 denier) to get a flat ribbon and carefully build up the thread over the butts of the throat.

3) Use tying wax, not dubbing wax, on the thread used to tie down the wing feathers. Tying wax available from John McLain (feathersmc.com) and a small piece lasts a lifetime. It is 70% rosin 20% beeswax, 10% castor or olive oil -formulas vary. It is the superglue of the 1880s - used to tie Classic Atlantic Salmon flies. With thread pressure it softens, and releasing pressure, it hardens like a rock. And unlike superglue, it can be unwrapped with a little effort.

4) Tie on each side wing assemblies using only 3 wraps each, advancing thread in adjacent wraps towards the eye on each side. Ensure you hold the wing feathers in place. Wrap once only, back to the first wrap of the first wing. Now tie on the other side - not too much thread tension or you'll roll the feathers.

5) At this point, stop, remove your left hand from the wing feathers and inspect. Ensure symmetrical and feathers are at the position you want. Undo and re-tie as needed. Once you move to the next step, there's no going back. (dramatic music goes here...)

6) Flatten the thread, and coat with tying wax. Hold on the wing with your left hand. Tie on, wrapping forward with reasonable tension. Once you get to 3/4 of the way forward, clip the wing butts. Finish the wrapping the head, keeping the thread untwisted, building up the shape you want, forward and back, smoothly with no thread lumps.

7) add a drop or two of medium-thin cement.

8) For a presentation finish, apply Sally Hansen Hard-as-Nails, 1 coat every 12 hours for 4-5 coats.

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The wings of grey and green ghosts I do up in pairs. A little drop of Sally Hanson at the front end will serve to glue two feathers together per side. Let sit and dry before assembling the fly. Then pair the two pairs between your fingers and cinch that down on the hook with the pinch method. Add the cheeks ( there is a method for this) and then the cock eyes ( same method as the cheeks). I'm sure there is a name for the cheeks and eyes but my own terminology is slip method. That is two light turns of thead on the stems forward of where you really want the cheek or eye to sit ( the tie down point is where you want it but with the feather rearward), then slide the feather forward into position and one or two more turns tightened down with the stem bent back over the feather snip then and form the head when done. If not done this way you may have a less durable fly and find a cheek or eye feather slipping back out down the road someday.

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I agree with the methodology, it is well documented. I have difficulty in finding quality feathers for the wings themselves and I only looking for grizzly and white ( not afraid of dying them). Seems most capes support great quality feathers for the smaller fly

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Are you tying down on bare stems? Very hard to keep them aligned and on top of hook. Try tying down a few mm behind the forward most fibers, ala Don Bastian. Works well with cheeks and/or shoulders as they cover where the thread compressed the fibers.

 

Thanks, Bob H

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watch this series of videos by ryan houston tying a carries stevens style feather wing streamer

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCvIrLBMq5k

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrxVcCAttkk

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKleMxMy3o8

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0A0dZ05xfGk

 

 

here is a carry stevens style feather wing streamer

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F4iJqvmFRg

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