Any hints when tying hackles please

[scubacrazy123]

Hi all,
I am just starting out tying my own, and so far, so good (ish)!
I am trying to tie a black and peacock spider and I am having a bit of trouble with the hackle. The rest of the fly is OK, in fact it's my best yet!
I am using black hen hackle, and when I wrap it round 2 or 3 times, it's fine until I try and get the thread back towards the eye to form the head and finish it. No matter which method I use, the thread traps most of the hackle fibres and ruins it.
I have tried going quickly, slowly, zig-zagging the thread through, even rotating the vice, but I am clearly doing something wrong.
Any-one help, please?
Many thanks in advance,
Gary.

[seanie]

Have a look at this,you will learn alot here





YouTube - DavieMcPhail's Channel

[bigbadtroutfisher]

Hi Gary, you say you are having trouble getting the thread back to the eye?
When you tie in the hackle for the spider, the thread should be positioned right at the eye so you can trap the hackle after you put 2 turns (max)! it shouldn't be behind the hackle as this will trap all the hackle fibers!
I hope this helps.
Robert

[arkle]

I hope your leaving enough room in front of the hackle to form the head. Another excellent source of videos is Gwent Angling Society & take a look at The FDG to see if there's a branch near you

[steve collyer]

With the b&p end the body 2-3mm behind the eye, tie in the hackle stalk & take the thread to 1mm behind the eye.
Use hackle pliers to wind 2 or 3 turns & you should almost butt the last turn up to where you left the thread.
Tie off with 3 turns (using a slow zig-zag method you mention ) & then clip with sharp scissors as close as possible to where the thread lashed-down the tip of the hackle stalk.
It doesn't matter if a few fibres are askew, because...
Now with index finger & thumb, gently pull back on all the hackle fibres whilst maintaining tension on the thread with your other hand & take 2 or 3 turns of silk back towards the body, this will keep the fibres pushed back at a slight angle. Adjust the amount of turns & the amount of space you go back to get the correct look. I'm only talking a fraction of 1mm here.
Now you should have a neat hackle.
Build up a small, neat head. Whip finish & varnish.

[g bigtrout]

A wee tip i use all the time


Wind hackle on to the eye then catch waste bit with 2 turns of thread like this.


Then using finger and thumb stroke everything back and tie down with 4 turns of thread like this


Do a whip finish and find waste bit and give a quick pull to remove


Should be left with this and no mess

[scubacrazy123]

WOW! Thank you so much for the replies.
I was thinking that I was doing it wrong. The SBS I was following is here :

UKFlyDressing - Absolute beginner to first complete fly

It is a long thread, but as you can see, the hackle is tied in at the start, and the thread ends up behind the hackle.

@ Bigbadtroutfisher - This is why my thread is behind the hackle.
@ Arkle - Great site, thank you
@ Seanie - I have looked here, very good vids. Thanks.
@ Steve Collyer - That is very helpful. Thank you
@ g bigtrout - thanks for posting that. I love the neat head.Something for me to aim for.

I will try and put this advice into practice now.
Again,
Thanks to all for your help.
Gary.