Rolled Wings

[Traditionalist]

Rolled wings are not used much nowadays, but they were once used by many dressers, especially on various wet flies. This means taking a slip of feather fibre, folding it to the width required and then tying it in with a pinched loop just as you would matched feather wing slips. This is still often used for soft feathers like mallard shoulder or teal flank, it is slightly less bother than tying in matched slips, and the wings are more robust. Rolled wings from a single feather do tend to twist sometimes however, and this may cause bad action in the water, hence quills and other feathers with very pronounced curves should be avoided when using this method for single rolled wings.

On many older lake flies and similar, paired rolled wings were often used. This means two slips of feather were selected, usually from right and left curved wings or body feathers, folded, and mounted as desired. Below are some plates of flies with double rolled wings.

Regarding the beautiful shape of some wings, on display flies and the like, if you wish, it is possible to form some wings after tying them in securely, by the judicious application of saliva, and then stroking the damp fibres to the shape you want, this will last until the first time you cast the fly! If you use this method on unwashed feathers or hair, do not put your fingers in your mouth after handling the material. You may catch something nasty! Or better still, use a damp foam pad, as used by money counters, ( Or as used to be used when the counters were human!).


These are the colour plates from the special folder "Flybook" insert in the rear pocket of the 1907 "Centenary edition", of "The Practical Angler" by W.C. Stewart  It seems these are little known. The flies for the plates were dressed by Mr.P.D.Malloch, of Perth.