Teal wings

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I'm having real problems with teal and mallard wings - The teal I have isn't the best but I can't get it to stay as a slip, it just rolls and looks messy (as in the picture below). Any advice greatfully appreciated.



Cheers - Steve

[sweenytodd]

Give both sides of the feather a light spray with hairspray before you cut your slip out . Just make sure you doing the pinch/loop properly as well .

[midlander]

Are you cutting/tearing them off the stem or tying them in still attached to the stem?

[Alberto]

Try preparing them first by steaming under a kettle to ensure that you get rid of creases etc before you start. Pull the feathers out square to the stem. Cut off about an inch then fold twice in half and tie on as a wing. You can tie them on as a matching slips but they have to be top quality and a matching pair.

Game Angling Scotland

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Thanks for the response, it's only an exercise in improving my tying to be honest - I don't even fish for salmon but fancied having a go at some of the flies, slowly (very slowly) working my way up to a fully dressed green highlander!!!

ST - I have some artist fixative, but it seems to make the feather too stiff, I'll try hairspray. I think I'm doing pinch and loop right, I can make a passable effort at starling wings etc.

Midlander - I'm cutting the slips off before tying them in - is that the best way.

Alberto - I'll try steaming, For most patterns I would use a folded wing, the blue charm (above) has to be slips because they go either side of the mallard.

I don't want to blame my equipment but the teal I have isn't very good but I'm sure that's only half of the problem - any suggestions for a good source (Cookshill?).

Cheers again - Steve

[arkle]

Hi Steve, the phrase "silk purse from a sows ear" comes to mind. by far the best flank feathers at the moment comes from Steve Cooper. Always go for the select grade rather than the bulk packs.

I often use pintail or widgeon flank instead of teal as it's generally more "tyer friendly". Gadwall is okay, but nowhere near as good although if you want a darker slightly smoky marking it's worth considering.

[weight_forward]

Thanks John, I have some widgeon on its way from Steve as it happens, but weather at that end and postal strikes at this means it slow coming.

It is a bulk pack of teal - OK for a rolled wing, but maybe not for slips. I guess going for the selected grade is a bit like the getting a genetic cape, it's more expensive at the start but you actually get a lot more usable feathers out of it.

[midlander]

If you're after matched pair wings then, in the case of teal, mallard, widgeon etc, offering them up to the shank still attached to the stem can make for a neater wing. There's less chance of it crumpling/collapsing.

Get your pair of feathers, judge the size of slip required, strip the side you're not using and then snip that section of stem out. Do that for both slips then match them up and pinch and loop. It helps but it's not a guaranteed perfect wing every time. As with most things, practice is the thing.