Needle

Post by **DUBBN** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:55 am

Working on my Needle game. It is tougher than it looks for me.

Size 14

Post by **letumgo** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:27 pm

I've tried several different techniques, to form the herl heads. My favorites are wrapping the herl around the tying thread and wrapping them forward together, or tying the herl in facing out over the eye and winding in backwards, then wrapping the tying thread forward thru the herl wraps (very durable construction). Neither method give the prettiest results, but they are much more fishable (durable). Then again, a drop of superglue under the herl wraps would allow more full fibres.

Post by **DUBBN** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 2:47 pm

I'm pulling my hair out on this one. I hope it fishes well. I have a few.

Post by **DUBBN** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:35 pm

letumgo wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 1:27 pm I've tried several different techniques, to form the herl heads. My favorites are wrapping the herl around the tying thread and wrapping them forward together, or tying the herl in facing out over the eye and winding in backwards, then wrapping the tying thread forward thru the herl wraps (very durable construction). Neither method give the prettiest results, but they are much more fishable (durable). Then again, a drop of superglue under the herl wraps would allow more full fibres.

This is as good as I will get it.

Thanks Ray, and you too Ron

Post by **Ron Eagle Elk** » Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:51 pm

That's really nice, Wayne. Tip of the hat to Robert Smith for my advice.

Post by **DUBBN** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 9:58 am

Even when tied poorly, soft hackles can be quite elegant.

Post by **redietz** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:09 am

I don't see Ron's suggestion in this thread (maybe it was a PM) so I'm probably repeating his advice, but the trick with herl heads is to tie the head as the very first thing after starting the thread. Tie off the fly behind the hackle.

Post by **DUBBN** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:26 am

redietz wrote: ↑Sun Oct 17, 2021 10:09 am I don't see Ron's suggestion in this thread (maybe it was a PM) so I'm probably repeating his advice, but the trick with herl heads is to tie the head as the very first thing after starting the thread. Tie off the fly behind the hackle.

It was in a PM.

Post by **DUBBN** » Sun Oct 17, 2021 2:57 pm

Ron Eagle Elk wrote: ↑Sat Oct 16, 2021 5:51 pm That's really nice, Wayne. Tip of the hat to Robert Smith for my advice.

Tip of the hat to you sir.

Post by **Mike62** » Mon Oct 18, 2021 6:44 pm

Wayne, have you tried tying the herl in front of, and behind the hackle? I love the sparseness of your pattern; so elegant. I tried that myself, but found that even a very sparse hackle collar would collapse around the hook. So I tried tying the herl fore and aft, so to speak; looked weird, fished very well up here.

Durability? It's herl, tie a lot of them.

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