Starling quill

[dj1212]

Every time I look through posts on this forum I am amazed and informed. The flies, the literature, the history, the discussions are the best! Thanks from me to all that contribute. I really do enjoy it.

[Mike62]

Every time I look through posts on this forum I am amazed and informed. The flies, the literature, the history, the discussions are the best! Thanks from me to all that contribute. I really do enjoy it.

Amen.

[Theroe]

Yet ANOTHER great thread on FF - every nice indeed!

I couldn't help but notice, at the top of the second page(59) starling is spoken of as "one of the easy winging materials".

Also - a lovely specimen you have in the William Mills snelled fly.

Dana

[Smuggler]

Excellent thread.

You know, I've never tried tying in slip wings forward and then bringing them back over to finish the fly... I'll have to give that a go later tonight.

[Theroe]

Eric - thats also how I was taught to tie them in. IMHO, it make the wings much more durable, not to mention they sit perfectly square!

Dana

[Old Hat]

Just to add a couple considerations Tom.

1. Starling is notoriously difficult for slips like this (regardless of what it said in the book ). It's thin and doesn't stay "zipped" well.
2. For this reason, don't fret too much, once wet it mostly all comes apart.

Your flies look great and the more you work with the material and tie this type of fly all the little stuff that bothers you now will work its way out. It really is one of those techniques that just comes with practice.

One tip I was given years ago when tying this type of wing...it is very important where you take your slips from the feather. The best section is the 3rd quarter up from the bottom, along the longer fibered edge of the feather. Next to that, the middle third. You can certainly use most of the feather just not with the same outcome.

The other tip I received, which seems odd but really helped me. When holding the slips on the hook to be tied in, use your thumb and middle finger (not your pointer finger). You need to pinch with the tips of your fingers. Put your thumb and pointer together and notice the mostly non-symmetrical way they fit together. now put the tips of your thumb and middle finger together, on most people they are much more symmetrically fit. Makes a difference when you are pinching and tightening down on the feathers to tie them in.

[Old Hat]

Throw some of these in the Secret Santa Swap!

[wsbailey]

Davie McPhail often substitutes other feathers for starling.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KY_Pp_ARZ ... e=youtu.be