I've recently acquired some of my 1st saddle hackles.
What's the best way to use them when tying ? Is it best to cut a section from the feather and leave the rest on the cape or is it best to remove a single feather and tie maybe a batch of six flies ?
Any advice welcome.
Your retailer would love it if you cut it into pieces, but it's much better (imho) to leave the feather intact.
In the end you will only have a small piece of waste, and if you cut it into sections you will have several pieces of waste after each fly.
Cheers, Hans
Hi Don,
Have always used the feather intact as Hans says less waste that way. Look through the saddle for right size of feather.
shanksi
What end of the feather do you tie in Ardbeg, the tip or the but?
Thanks for all the replies, some very informative stuff.
Hans, as ever, your input is always appreciated - thank you.
Now, I just need to decide on a dabbler to tie as I got some olive cloaking feathers and nice dubbing too at the same time as the saddle hackles.
Ardeg, you say you find the hackle is a bit bedraggled after using it. Are you using hackle pliers or holding it by hand ?
Again, this might be something the more experienced tiers could advise on.
Regards,
Donald.
Quote from: breac uaig on February 19, 2009, 04:46:26 PM
You could double the hackle by drawing it thro' the crease in your fore fingerdo this a few times before winding it on, breac uaig
Hi Breac,
I've seen this done before but never used the method myself. What's the benefit of doubling the hackle ?
Quote from: Ardbeg on February 19, 2009, 08:00:09 PM
Hackle pliers Donald, I'll try by hand and see if that makes adifference.
Cheers
Ardbeg
I've had some trouble with hackle pliers slipping or breaking the feather.
Should I put some rubber on the grips ?
Would this help solve the problem ?