Hackles

[messybeast]

It's been years since I attended classes and have forgotten the rules for hackle use. eg when do you use cock as opposed to hen, do you have the "curve" facing the hook or away from


Messy

[shpeil]

On dries, I use cock, with the curve facing away from the hook so the tips of the wound barbs point forwards.

On wets, I use hen, with the curve facing the hook so the wound tips of the barbs flow back.

There are no rules though... e.g. on palmered wets I use a cock body hackle... Some dries have a hen run through a cock hackle etc. You'll just find cock is stiffer so does some things better but with less movement.

[Fly_F1sher]

Originally Posted by shpeil

On dries, I use cock, with the curve facing away from the hook so the tips of the wound barbs point forwards.

What about on parachutes? Is the rule always the sheen side of the hackle on the water? Or the opposite?

[shpeil]

On parachutes, I don't care! There are some folk who do though. I've seen threads on here about that before but have paid scant regard to them.