Making Organza Ribbon Hackle.

[Mataura mayfly]

Organza hackle is not exactly traditional, but can be a neat way to add some glitz and sparkle to fly patterns and can be used as a collar hackle or palmered up the body of a fly. It is very soft and supple and can be used as a Spey style in Salmon or Steelhead flies.

Cut a section of the ribbon to a length desired, remembering it does not have to be very long to wrap once or twice around a hook shank. Think of the feathers you use and what length of stem is actually wrapped around the hook, but (just as with feathers) you need some to hold on to to form the wraps.



Cut away one of the seams. Where this cut is made dictates the length of the "hackle" fibres. Depending on the size of ribbon you started with you may be able to cut down the middle and get a "two for one" deal.



How strip the parallel fibres to the seam from the cut ends, (flat nosed tweezers can help here) down to the seam. Pull three or four fibres from the seam (the ones that now form hackle fibres) at one end and you have a tie in point.



Tie in with the hackle fibres pointing toward the hook bend and wrap as normal.

If body palmer hackle is sought, the initial section of ribbon should be longer and if you wish you can cut the section lengthways on a taper so the hackle becomes longer as wraps are made up the body.

[hankaye]

Mataura mayfly, Howdy;

Neat-o, spiffy-do .....

hank

[William Anderson]

Jeff, now that's something I have not seem before. I'm sure all the decorations around your house are getting more nervous by the day.

w

[letumgo]

Jeff - I applauded your imaginative use of the ribbon material. There are lots of materials out there, waiting to be explored. I enjoy this sort of experimentation very much. Thank you for sharing. For me, it is a welcome addition.

[Mataura mayfly]

Guys, so NOT my idea. First I saw it was in the Fly Fishing & Fly Tying (UK) magazine some time ago. Had used organza in sheet and ribbon form before for spinner wings, tails and burnt wings, but not the hackle trick, so I thought I would share it with the forum.

[letumgo]

That's okay. I will steal the idea, even if it is not yours. The thanks still go to you, for sharing the idea.

[lykos33]

I have been wanting to tie some spey salmon flies but do not like the price of the spey type hackle.....hehehe...who needs it now...
Murray

[gingerdun]

OK, Jeff, so far so good. You made a fly with this?

[narcodog]

A couple of weeks ago I went to Joann's and bought three different shades of organza. I have used it in the past when it was marketed for wings. I bought the least amount I could for $6.00. I now have three life times supply of the stuff. I have been using it for emergers.

[Mataura mayfly]

Ray, mate, that was the whole idea behind putting it up here........ go nuts with it....... but show us the results.

Murray, it will make a Spey hackle, but so will some other cheap feathers out there if you "un-zip" the fibres in a bleach bath. Or if you can find someone with a Silver Pheasant skin, they often will not have a use for the black belly feathers and part with them for a minimal fee. These (and other Pheasant feathers) make excellent Spey hackles, or Heron substitutes. If you find the feathers you choose have too thick of a stem you can get into a whole new world of feather stem splitting.

Lance, yes, usually as a collar or underhackle on bigger flies, (couple of purple ones in the Salmon & Sea Run thread) or as a small body hackle on some Caddis type ties.

Narco, it is good cheap flash materials and you will be surprised where it shows up, tied around boxes and bags of candy, perfume, clothing, flowers....... easily found when you live in a house dominated by females.