Floss and paired hackles

[AndrewMWalker]

Hello fellow Fluff Winders.

I've been working on some Clan Chiefs and I have 2 questions.

The yellow / red glow bright floss I'm using seems a bit wavy and untidy when I tie it in, I'm using the thick stuff. Should I be using the thin stuff and doubling is up? If there's something better than the glow bright please let me know.

Also, apart from just practising should with the paired red and black body hackles are there any useful tricks that you use to keep things tidy. I was wondering if you strip one side of the hackle to keep the bulk down?

Thanks

Andy

[Captain Scarlet]

Originally Posted by AndrewMWalker

Hello fellow Fluff Winders.

I've been working on some Clan Chiefs and I have 2 questions.

The yellow / red glow bright floss I'm using seems a bit wavy and untidy when I tie it in, I'm using the thick stuff. Should I be using the thin stuff and doubling is up? If there's something better than the glow bright please let me know.

Also, apart from just practising should with the paired red and black body hackles are there any useful tricks that you use to keep things tidy. I was wondering if you strip one side of the hackle to keep the bulk down?

Thanks

Andy

Hi Andy, I use the standard denier Glo Brite, and take quite a long length, approx 10-12" and double it over itself, 3-4 times (can't remember exactly), and then attack it with my dubbing lollipop stick, making right to left sweeps,(I'm Righthanded for tying) causing the floss to separate into its smaller single strands. This should help straighten any kinks or waves in your floss.

As for the Body, I use a combination of 'full' hackles and stripped, depending on how you want the fly to look, personal preference etc.

Hope some of this helps
Carl

[AndrewMWalker]

Cheers Carl, that's a great help.

Andy

[midlander]

By the sounds of it you're using the yarn which is altogether thicker and crinkly. You should be using the floss as Carl says, much finer with stronger colour. I find that a good bit of tension helps to keep the hackle stems together when palmering. Take it slow and keep the stems together and you'll have a much neater palmer with more body peeping through.

[AndrewMWalker]

I think you are right about the Yarn Midlander, I've got some of the fine floss stuff (in the wrong colour for a clan chief), but I can see that doubling it several times would work better than the stuff I've been using.

I'll have another crack at them tomorrow!!!

Cheers

Andy