question??

[zimtrout]

evening gents
quick question, I am starting to tie a few more palmered flies, trying to blend the colours on them by using two different coloured saddle hackles, is there a good way to do this, I cant seem to get the two hackles to stay together as I wind down towards the tail of the fly, then when I take the first turn to hold them in with a rib it doesn't look quite right?????

[maharg]

Try one at a time and let the first one hang on the pliers till you get the second one down.

[dabhoy]

You will find that the flies will be quite bushy so to counteract this I usually strip one side of each feather.I tie both in at the same time and then just grip the feathers with my fingers at the same time, give an initial full turn and then wind about 4 times down the body until I get to the butt Hold the feather tips away from the hook at the bottom above the barb and take the rib straight over before winding at an angle on the further turns.

[maharg]

Originally Posted by dabhoy

You will find that the flies will be quite bushy so to counteract this I usually strip one side of each feather.I tie both in at the same time and then just grip the feathers with my fingers at the same time, give an initial full turn and then wind about 4 times down the body until I get to the butt Hold the feather tips away from the hook at the bottom above the barb and take the rib straight over before winding at an angle on the further turns.

Good advive there.
I was just to lazy to type the bit about stripping one side of the feather

[syphogenic]

Originally Posted by zimtrout

evening gents
quick question, I am starting to tie a few more palmered flies, trying to blend the colours on them by using two different coloured saddle hackles, is there a good way to do this, I cant seem to get the two hackles to stay together as I wind down towards the tail of the fly, then when I take the first turn to hold them in with a rib it doesn't look quite right?????

Another tip, if you're doing two together, break their backs before you start winding (bend them over to the eye of the hook) You'll find they'll be more inclined to start the way you want. You can apply this to a single feather too.

[weight_forward]

Agree with all the above, the only thing I would add would be that I tend not to use hackle pliers with saddle hackles, I get my fingers in there and keep stroking the stems together as usual a bit of spit on the fingers helps!

[easker1]

Bumbles use the 2 hackles tying them in together back to back, seems to be the accepted way of doing it , works for me, easker1

[garyj]

Doe it really matter if they're not exactly together? I find that a dual coloured palmer looks just as good "split" as they do together, but I do like my flies bushy so it adds to this.

Gary

[troutheaven]

Its your hackle choice that is the problem. Cock hackles, especially saddles, have strong stalks. Select hackles with finer stalks, such as genetic hen, or indian/chinese cock for better results.

Fibre removal on one side will help with bushiness, but not in keeping the two stalks together as you wind. I always use hackle pliers but ensure that strain on both hackles is equal before pinching them with the pliers.

Don't wind hackles seperately, or continue to wind if not winding together. Don't persevere with wrong technique if the same amount of perseverance with good technique will solve all your problems.

[zimtrout]

thank you for the advice chaps, got the day off tommorow so will give it another go!