Tying a good collar

[Wmass]

I have been in to tying alot of mayfly and attractor soft hackles lately and I just can't seem to get my collars to look right. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[JackM]

You aren't describing what you are having trouble with exactly. I use partidge feathers for soft hackles. I tie them in by the tips with the darker/shiny side facing the eye. Then after tying in, hold vertical above the hook and stroke the barbs on both sides of the feather backward toward the hook point and begin wrapping like any other hackle. As you wrap, keep stroking the feather barbs backwards so when they lay down, the dark side is visible. Try only one or two wraps. Also, building a bulge behind the hackle wraps first help keep them flared out somewhat after you tie off and also when it is worked in the drift. Another way to accomplish the bulge is to use a glass or brass bead behind the hackle.

Here's an on-line demonstration:

http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/101402fotw.html

They tie in by the butt, not the tips. Maybe I do it wrong, but it works for me.

 

[afishinado]

My soft shckles improved immensely when I started to remove the hackle from one side of the feather. Check out these instructions from Hans Weilemann's site:

http://www.danica.com/flytier/steps/poe/poe.htm

 

[Wulff-Man]

I use the same method that afishinado gave you. When doing this, to get the best results, you have to make sure the stripped side of the quill stays against the hook shaft (that is, the quill starts out this way, and doesn't twist). The easiest way to do this is by using a rotary vise. And of course, the feather must face the right direction, like it is in the picture, so the natural curve of the barbs curves them over the hook, not up and away from it. Sometimes when making the head I wrap the thread back over the barbs a bit if I want them to sweep back a little more.

 

[Coughlin]

JackM & Afishinado,
Two excellent techniques. Thanks!
Coughlin