Problems with palmered flies

[cdc_archie]

I have recently started attempting to tie some more traditional wet fly patterns and I am having problems palmering. Basically I find it difficult to wind the wire rib through the hackle without catching a significant number of barbs. Watching the likes of Mc Phail on youtube they dont appear to be doing anything to avoid this happening.

Has anybody got any tips?

[christy27]

Well you just kinda wiggle it as you go. Look to put on half a turn at a time with mucho wiggling, check that's ok then follow round-same procedure.. Could have a dubbing needle in your other hand to free any bits as you go. Really if you took 6 turns to get the hackle on then only 6 at the most to get the wire back. Not to close either. Try to line your attack to drop in between the palmered section if that makes sense. It does get easier quite quickly with practice/patience Hth.

Chris.

[flytyingguy]

WInd it through as fast as you can..

[st7]

If you trap too many you can pull them out after the fly is finished using a fine needle/tweezers.

[Eddie O'Neill]

Originally Posted by flytyingguy

WInd it through as fast as you can..

I used to have the same problem and tried various methods to rectify it. However I have found that winding it as fast as you can is best.

[Angus McLeod]

Flytying Guy has it right. Just wind the rib quickly and firmly, under tension, and it will brush the hackle fibres aside as it passes.