Olive Hog

[123jc]

I'm struggling with deer hair at the moment, this is my best effort so far but as you can see the deer hairs has sprung back up at the head, I'll maybe try a hackle guard or similar to hold it down so as I can finish the head off properly.

Craig

[garyj]

Looks like you've not used a stacker. an essential tool as I've recently found out.
Try a little more dubbing near the head and it shoves the hair back better, then force the dubbing back whilst finishing the head.

I like it though, great colours.

Gary

[123jc]

Originally Posted by garyj

Looks like you've not used a stacker. an essential tool as I've recently found out.
Try a little more dubbing near the head and it shoves the hair back better, then force the dubbing back whilst finishing the head.

I like it though, great colours.

Gary

It started off nicely stacked but it all went to pot during the tie , I'm having trouble keeping it from spinning but I'll keep at it, I'll try a bit more dubbing at the head with the next one.

Thanks Craig

[garyj]

If it's spinning then your initial few turns are too slack, pinch the length of hairs in finger/thumb, snip to just proud of grip and tie in at that, nice tight turns then run back a few to secure and position.

[123jc]

Thanks for the tips Gary. I've been trying to figure out how to stop the hair spinning as I can't hold it while I'm tying it on, so I tried offering it up to the hook in an elastic band, I then used a piece of straw with a slit cut in it to force back the head whilst finishing off, still not great but better than the first effort, maybe a bit more dubbing at the head on the next one ?

Craig

[mancfly]

It looks like the thick thorax behind the wing is pushing the hair forward. It's strange really cos the nearside hair IS at an angle.
Anyway, if you want the hair to lie flatter, even on that fly in the top pic, push down on the wing root area, then push forward, then stroke back. This will crease the hair close to where it's tied in, helping it to lie at a lower angle.

alan

[mancfly]

Instead of just winding the thread round the wing roots at the start, try 4 good, fairly tight pinch and loops, preferably tightened by pulling upwards after each loop. This will help prevent the thread dragging the hairs away from you and round the shank as you tighten. Waxing the thread may help to give more grip too.

alan

[123jc]

Originally Posted by mancfly

It looks like the thick thorax behind the wing is pushing the hair forward. It's strange really cos the nearside hair IS at an angle.
Anyway, if you want the hair to lie flatter, even on that fly in the top pic, push down on the wing root area, then push forward, then stroke back. This will crease the hair close to where it's tied in, helping it to lie at a lower angle.

alan

Thanks alan, I just tried that on the Claret fly and it worked a treat, the fly in the top picture has already been shredded, as you said to much dubbing behind the wing.

Craig

[123jc]

Originally Posted by mancfly

Instead of just winding the thread round the wing roots at the start, try 4 good, fairly tight pinch and loops, preferably tightened by pulling upwards after each loop. This will help prevent the thread dragging the hairs away from you and round the shank as you tighten. Waxing the thread may help to give more grip too.

alan

I'll try that on the next one, thanks, heres the same fly after working the wing roots, a lot better I think.

Craig

[mancfly]

Originally Posted by 123jc

I'll try that on the next one, thanks, heres the same fly after working the wing roots, a lot better I think.

Craig

Yes a lot better Craig
If you do the creasing technique several times you can get the wing to be as flat as you want by really kinking the fibres
The method is brill for other materials too; marabou, hair wings, hackles, Krystal Flash etc.

alan