Quailabou and Light Orange

[tie2fish]

Hook: Daiichi 1550, Size #14
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer #6a, Light Orange
Hackle: Feather from back end of Gambel's Quail skin (near tail)
Body: Tying thread

Quailabou and Light Orange.JPG (35.39 KiB) Viewed 3501 times

[letumgo]

Oooo! Fluffy!

Should be a lively pattern, even in gentle currents.

Nice one, Bill.

[BrkTrt]

Nice fly Bill.
Those marabou feathers really make a soft-hackle soft.

Alan

[DOUGSDEN]

Dang Bill,
Beautiful work! The "Quailabou" is awesome stuff and I can just imagine this extremely soft feather will look and react when wet! I know a certain brood of Bluegill that would love this stuff!
We always enjoy seeing your work Bill! Unbelievably great in all measures and proportions!
Dougsden

[Old Hat]

Unknown.jpg (17.73 KiB) Viewed 3445 times

[tie2fish]

.......

[Old Hat]

Actually that is quite a feat Bill to wrap that small marabou type feather.

[tie2fish]

I'll 'fess up, Carl.

After trying briefly to wrap one of these feathers with awful results, I tied it in as a bundle out over the hook eye with two loose wraps, then tightened down to sort of roll it around the shank. Left it there while I went down and back to make the body, brought thread up front, then teased barbs with my fingers into a semblance of equal distribution, finally pulling them back before building the head to lock them in place.

Same technique as the SBS I did a while back on using oversized partridge feathers:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=5360

[Old Hat]

Nothing wrong with that. It is a great technique especially with longer fibers.

[William Anderson]

I'll 'fess up, Carl.

After trying briefly to wrap one of these feathers with awful results, I tied it in as a bundle out over the hook eye with two loose wraps, then tightened down to sort of roll it around the shank. Left it there while I went down and back to make the body, brought thread up front, then teased barbs with my fingers into a semblance of equal distribution, finally pulling them back before building the head to lock them in place.

Same technique as the SBS I did a while back on using oversized partridge feathers:

viewtopic.php?f=19&t=5360

I'd say you applied the exact right technique to get this result. This is fantastic. And high marks for making this technique look so clean, something I haven't quite managed.