Picric dyed Hen Pheasant wings

[sonnaghan]

I bought a pair from a reputable dealer in N.Ireland. I use wing slips from the hen pheasant, tied boat style for Green Peters. When I use these picric dyed slips they separate into individual fibers and look awful. Does picric damage the little barbels holding the fibers together or is it my poor technique. I never have had any trouble with undyed material.
Any views would be gratefully received.

[mayflyjunky]

Originally Posted by sonnaghan

I bought a pair from a reputable dealer in N.Ireland. I use wing slips from the hen pheasant, tied boat style for Green Peters. When I use these picric dyed slips they separate into individual fibers and look awful. Does picric damage the little barbels holding the fibers together or is it my poor technique. I never have had any trouble with undyed material.
Any views would be gratefully received.

Hi Michael

What is your technique???

Usually the splitting is caused because you have crossed over the first turn of thread when catching in the slips and put the second or subsequent wraps to the bend side of the first wrap.

Or if the splits are comming to the side of the wing you might have too broad a slip

Hope this makes sense

I have never really had problems like that with picric but it would make sense, it, being an acid might damage the fibres.

[sonnaghan]

Aiden, One slip is broader than the other. One is placed on top of the other and using a pinch and loop 3 times I hold them in place. That's when the splitting takes place. I suppose I could varnish them before I put them on the hook. Truth be told, the wings are a bit too garish for a green peter. However will give them a go. What they might be useful for in the split mode, is a mayfly nymph!

[mayflyjunky]

Originally Posted by sonnaghan

Aiden, One slip is broader than the other. One is placed on top of the other and using a pinch and loop 3 times I hold them in place. That's when the splitting takes place. I suppose I could varnish them before I put them on the hook. Truth be told, the wings are a bit too garish for a green peter. However will give them a go. What they might be useful for in the split mode, is a mayfly nymph!

No don't varnish them, because when the break they will break into lumps, at least when the break unvarnished the fly will become like a hairwing.

For what its worth, my method is, when ready for the wing pull the hackle to the side of the fly to clear the way on top of the fly for the wing. Then select 2 slips, left/right, about the same thickness, but it would be ok to have one slightly broader, and line them up. Using about 3-4 pinch and loop turns gently gently hold the wing on and then every turn after that to the eye is loose, gradually getting tighter as I aproach the eye, and back towards the first turn never over tightening, but do not cross the first loop.

I'd say I use about 10 or more loose turns to hold on the wing.

[arkle]

Borrow some hair-spray & give individual feathers a quick waft a few minutes before tying them in, it might help.

[sonnaghan]

Arkle, glad you mentioned that because Malone in one of his books uses an aerosol paint fixative. Actually have a tin in front of me now. IT'S caled artist's fixative and is made by Winsor and Newton. Malone uses it on Mallard wing slips.
Thanks for reminding me.

[mayflyjunky]

Peter O Reilly I think, uses 4 slips of hen pheasant glued together by copydex. As fixatives go it would be the most flexable and dries clear.

No mater what fixative you use the fibres will still look unnatural when they begin to break apart after hopefully a fish or two.

It's a good solution to having it looking nice at the vice. I used to use the copydex on the wings and found once the wing broke it was useless.

[oakham orange]

From time to time I dab a little bit of sally hansen hard as nail between my finger & thumb and gently stroke the wing. Make sure you allow to dry fully.

Another wee tip i learnt was to use cellotape. put the slip on the cellotape then cover with another piece of cellotape and trim to shape and then fold down the middle. makes a great wing for a peter to fish on the point. Only downside is the fly can sometimes stin if the wing is not even.

hope that helps.

[sweenytodd]

Does it really matter if the wing spits ?? I am just tying my first flies after getting some kit and some hooks . I am not happy with the results at the vice but on the other hand am thinking about the ones that I bought and the wings split badly but still hammered the fish . I guess they are not a fussy as us ???

[silversedge]

Cmon Danny get some photos taken