doubled hackles

[Cothi]

Sorry, being dim. At the moment I'm frozen with the hackle pliers in one hand and the tip in the other. What do you mean "sweep the fibres" and how do I do it if both hands are occupied?

[Gnat]

Hey BH, thanks for dealing with the subject of 'doubling'.
It's been something I've been meaning to ask for some time.
Your below sentence has me slightly confused too - Could you explain it as if you were talking to an idiot, which I am!
I'm not sure what the doubling bit is! - Do you fold the tip back to the butt

"Now catch the tip in your hackle pliers and hold these in your right hand, hold the butt of the stem in your left hand, then sweep the fibres back between your thumb and first finger of your right hand."

[thewickedpickett]

nicely illustrated and explained braceheart. the only difference in the way i do it is that i tie the hackle in first then double it. your way may have advantaged however since there is less chance of the hackle slipping out whilst doubling.

alanb also gave me a great tip for tying in hackles. tie it in with the shiny side facing you then cut up a few mms of the far side of the hackle. then double AWAY from this side then wind the hackle. cutting up a few mms allows the first turn to sit better.

[John Gray]

braveheart said:

I just knew I should have stayed away from this one
Believe me it is a simple operation, describing it is much harder
I use TMC rotating hackle pliers, but the process is the same with tear drop pliers.

Let's deal with the grip first, with the hackle tip in the pliers you should have the pliers in your right hand, hold them with the bottom three fingers. Use the remaining finger and thumb to "sweep" the fibres back.





The "sweep" What you are trying to do here is fold the hackle in half, so with the good side of the hackle facing you, fold(sweep) the fibres back, you may find it helpful to moisten your fingers first.

Hope this helps you see the process better.

The really hard part is holding the camera.....

[Braveheart]

johngray said:

The really hard part is holding the camera.....

I have a big mouth ;D

[3lbgrayling]

I have a big mouth

we've noticed.

jim

[Gnat]

Thanks BH, I think it's clear now, but just to clarify I thought I'd check with a few queries below,

You fold the shiny side back which is really the way the fibres want to fall or the dull side should touch the corresponding dull side - is this correct ?

When it's tied onto the hook, should the shiny side be facing you ?

When winding down to the eye - do you wind clockwise or anti-clockwise or does it matter ?

Remind me again why we double - I think I know but just wanna make sure ?

If the fly requires a 2nd hackle (like the cascade) - at what point is it tied in ?

[Braveheart]

Yes Gnat, dull side to dull side.
Since you will in effect have two shiny sides, yes it will be facing you ;D

When you tie in the hackle, you should have the tip pointing towards the eye of the hook with stem on top.
You tie the hackle in on the "near" side of the hook, so wind clockwise (away from you)
We double a hackle so that it lies in a more streamlined fashion, it's actually unnecessary, but a doubled hackle is more pleasing on the eye.
If you are tying in two hackles, the second one goes on after the first one is tied off.
If you are tying a palmered doubled hackle, then it is wound after any body and ribbing materials.

[Braveheart]

3lbgrayling said:

I have a big mouth

we've noticed.

jim

[AlanB]

Though there are many ways I always find it easiest to tie in the hackle then double it. By tying one end to the hook you have a hand free to do the doubling with.

Another good tip is to wet the tip of your thumb and rub it on your index finger until it becomes sticky. This gives you extra grip while folding.

Cheers

Alan.