Starling quill

[upstatetrout]

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This fly no. 60. Plate 11 from North Country Flies. The July Dun.The wing is starling quill. I find it extremely difficult to work with this material. Does any one have any critiques or tips for starling quill control?

Tom

[wsbailey]

In the days when flies were tied in hand the wings were often tied in first; pointed forward of the eye. When the rest of the fly was finished; the wings were pulled back over the body and tied down.

[letumgo]

Tom,

To my eye, your tying style is very classic. I really like the way you set the wings, and general proportions.

Bill,

I had noticed that winging technique on the older flies. Many of the MOM flies are tyed in this manner. It makes for a very durable wing.

[Hankinsfly]

Nice wings. Looks tasty.

[wsbailey]

There's the heretical approach.

[tie2fish]

Good SBS, Bill. What publication did that come out of?

[wsbailey]

Practical Fly-tying by T. R. Henn 1950. One thing that is unusual about this book is that the instructions are for tying in hand without a vise.

[upstatetrout]

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This fly the flights fancy is perhaps a hundred years old or more. I suspect it is of William Mills and son origin. Whoever tied this fly was a master of applying starling wings. The fly I removed from its envelope in an old Common Sense wallet. It is pristene save for some tarnished gold tinseling.

Bill thank you for your research I got some interesting tips from your article

Tom

[redsedge]

There's the heretical approach.

Call me a heretic! Thanks for posting those pages, Bill.

[wsbailey]

More heresy.