Jump to content
Fly Tying
Jtrinker

My dry fly hackle falls forward as I get closer to the eye of the hook

Recommended Posts

Im a noob when it comes to tying dries and Ive tried all sorts of different techniques but when I get to the end of the hook and want to tie my hackle off I have a bunch of fibers that are falling forward and its impossible to tie the hackle off without them all getting caught and creating an ugly mess.

 

Im stripping or trimming the hackles at the end of the feather off and tying the bare quill to the hook shank shiny side up. I leave a little bit of bare quill so that the fibers stand up right on the first full turn, and everything seems fine until I make a few full turns and then the fibers start falling forward.

 

Thanks for any advice

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

use your fingers as a hackle guard to pull the hackle fibers back out of the way as you make the whip finish

 

i actually use a half hitch tool to push the hackle back then i hold the pushed back fibers and wrap the head

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This will happen if you don't have a smooth, even thread base to wrap your hackle around. Make sure there is no "step down" just behind the eye. Also, stop your hackle half an eye distance or so behind the eye.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I "second" the half hitch tool. There are also hackle guards that can help as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Hackle-Guard-Set-of-3/dp/B009SAO3B0?SubscriptionId=AKIAJ2F6RDUSIYCWQMFQ&tag=sa-sym-new-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B009SAO3B0

 

As for trimming the hackle, Ugh... - maybe for a nice beautiful presentation fly - but for a "fishing" fly, use your fingers, the half hitch, or the hackle guard - and don't sweat a few fibers sticking out at random - and if so, you can also remove them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for posting Norm, using Barry's method would definitely improve my tying too.

I have success using the thread to push back a stray hackle barb or two.

By wrapping at an angle in the direction of the tail of the fly will cause the stray barb to go in that direction. Then wrapping over it's base keeps it where it needs to be.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

oh man, I was looking for Barry's vids, I came across them once and I forgot to save him in favs.

thanks for posting that!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Try tying your dry flies as parachute patterns - you won't have the hackle falling forward, there is just the post for the wing so you don't have to worry about having even wings, and best of all, the fly lands on the water without tipping over on it's side...you can even go up a hackle size If you want. Once you get the hang of dealing with the post, I think you will have a good time tying and fishing your favorite dry patterns tied in the parachute style.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Try tying your dry flies as parachute patterns - you won't have the hackle falling forward, there is just the post for the wing so you don't have to worry about having even wings, and best of all, the fly lands on the water without tipping over on it's side...you can even go up a hackle size If you want. Once you get the hang of dealing with the post, I think you will have a good time tying and fishing your favorite dry patterns tied in the parachute style.

 

Ditto! Collar-hackled dry flies are pretty, but such a pain, both in the vise and on the water. Parachutes all the way for me!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

 

Try tying your dry flies as parachute patterns - you won't have the hackle falling forward, there is just the post for the wing so you don't have to worry about having even wings, and best of all, the fly lands on the water without tipping over on it's side...you can even go up a hackle size If you want. Once you get the hang of dealing with the post, I think you will have a good time tying and fishing your favorite dry patterns tied in the parachute style.

 

Ditto! Collar-hackled dry flies are pretty, but such a pain, both in the vise and on the water. Parachutes all the way for me!

 

for me the opposite. I'm not a fan of parachutes(on still waters) and find using a good quality hackle makes hackled dries not too bad. Going to be dry fly trouting on a river this year for first time so maybe need to revisit the 'chutes?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Now that all the good advice is out there, I'll throw out this, when I first started tying, I set my hackle a little too close to the eye a lot and the crowding made it hard to get a hackle-free head.

 

I don't mind fishing parachutes, but, I'd never say they are an easier tie.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...

×
×
  • Create New...