Tying spiders-partridge hackle

[christy27]

What is it about partridge hackle that I find it so bleedy difficult. I have been working away for a month now tying spiders. Some, I have to say, are up to standard (must mention only 10 months experience). Waterhen Bloa is my fave, it always comes out right. Snipe and Purple the same. Woodcock and Red-sound. But soon as I tie in that wretched partridge hackle anything can happen. It usually breaks half way through, snaps neatly right on the edge of the pliers. Or another trick is the fibres point forward instead of back. Grrrr.

I now have some Tiemco rotary hackle pliers that I find really easy to use-far better for me than anything I've used before. I am gentle when winding on, if the cat farted the blasted thing would snap! It did-it did.

Oh I know in my heart of hearts that it can not snap unless I pull it but hells-bells there must be an easier way. .

Anyone else have this prob or any ideas?

Chris

[shpeil]

My problem is not having any feathers small enough. I end up taking the fibres of the stem, tying them on pointing over the eye and kind of rolling them round the shank with the thread, then folding them to point backwards and securing there with a couple of turns in front. It works for me.

[christy27]

Originally Posted by shpeil

My problem is not having any feathers small enough. I end up taking the fibres of the stem, tying them on pointing over the eye and kind of rolling them round the shank with the thread, then folding them to point backwards and securing there with a couple of turns in front. It works for me.

Yep, same as. I found a few small ones on the neck, someone told me a month or two back when I asked a different question. If you have a full body they are there in the short stuby neck bit. Perhaps that's my problem-to delicate from there? Thanks for the reply.

[Chris Reeves]

The problem may be that the edges of your hackle pliers are sharp, they wont cut the feather when its not under pressure but as you wind it and put on pressure the sharp edge can nick the fibres and a break happens. Try a piece of silicone tubing on each edge of the pliers, I use pole float rubbers from the coarse fishing shop.

hope this is helpful

[BRUCE1]

Originally Posted by christy27

. Or another trick is the fibres point forward instead of back. Grrrr.

I now have some Tiemco rotary hackle pliers that I find really easy to use-far better for me than anything I've used before. I am gentle when winding on, if the cat farted the blasted thing would snap! It did-it did.


Chris

Chris.... are you keeping the hackle pliers straight on the wrap round or are they twisting as that will turn the stem and make them point forward, and with each turn try stroking the fibres backwards ........

[Endrick]

If your hackles are too long then

1. tie the hackle onto the tip of a dubbing needle.

2. Offer it up to the hook and sweep the hackle over the eye of the hook and tie off at the desired length.

If this doesn't make sense I'll put a photo on here tonight to explain.

Malcolm

[dwiltshire]

Hi Chris,

How are you tying in the feather? With partridge hackle being so thick in the base of the stem, it is much better to tie them in by the tip. Then the hackle pliers are on the thicker butt.

Have a look here at these two SBS:
Specifically using partridge:
River Fly Box, Tying the March Brown, winged wet fly

... and the basic routine I use when tying spider. Just tie in by the tip with the game bird feathers:
River Fly Box, Tying spiders and Soft Hackles

Cheers,
Dave.

[syphogenic]

My opinion...you need to get a skin which will last you for years. Select your feather...shorter hackle fibres from the birds neck. Remove the fluff and a few fibres from the root of the feather. Hold the root and stroke the fibres back leaving a few at the tip to tie on with. After tying on...use your fingers to wind the feather. If you are right handed (Im presuming so) wind the feather with your right hand using your index and thumb to twist the feather, in other words manipulate it to turn the way you wish it to go. After a turn use the index of your left hand to trap it on top of the hook whilst you relax, then do your next turn. Its far easier to use your fingers than the pliers, you have more control over the tension and can manipulate the feather as you wind and also after each turn when you have trapped the feather with the index finger of your left hand you can release the stalk with your right, that way you don't have the weight or the shape of the pliers getting in your way threatening to snap your feather. Hope this makes it much easier for you.

[christy27]

Thank you gentlemen for the advice. All good ideas that make sense to me. I have listed what you all had to say and am going to change things accordingly. Thanks again will update later.

[camshy]

Originally Posted by Endrick

If your hackles are too long then

1. tie the hackle onto the tip of a dubbing needle.

2. Offer it up to the hook and sweep the hackle over the eye of the hook and tie off at the desired length.

If this doesn't make sense I'll put a photo on here tonight to explain.

Malcolm

Yeh go on, that would be great thanks. I managed to get some small ones from Phil at Spiderplus and they are great, just what I needed. If you can show us this alternative method it would be a back up