Peacock and Starling (Glanros / Henwing Style)

[tworod]

A solution for tiny delicate hackles of any type is a micro-vascular clamp. You can find them on the internet and are commonly used for eye surgery. Excellent for tiny dry fly hackle too though with the genetic hackles being 6-12 inches long these days the need is a lot less than days of yore.
Here is a picture comparing the micro clamp with a standard Herb Howard hackle plier. The obvious advantage is how narrow the tip is.

[letumgo]

Wow, that would be perfect. Thank you very much for the suggestion. The search begins!

[FlyFisherMann1955]

Tworod,

Are the jaws on your clamp smooth or serrated?

Thanks- Ken

[letumgo]

tworod - Your suggestion will add to my growing collection of hackle pliers. Always nice to have options to suit the task at hand. In hindsight I probably should have been using the blue pair in the middle. They have a nice spring mechanism which stretches to gently to protect delicate hackle.



Dana - Here is a close up picture of the finished flies (spool of Pearsall's silk to show scale).

[tworod]

Tworod,

Are the jaws on your clamp smooth or serrated?

Thanks- Ken

Serrated and given the intended surgical use they are very gentle on hackles whether at the stem or tip.

[FlyFisherMann1955]

Okay, the search is on. I've tried the Dr Slick "Extra Hand Tweezer", which are serrated, but I still break the tips off some the starling feathers with them.

Thanks- Ken

[Theroe]

Thank you Ray. That’s really a tremendous pattern.