[John Reid]

I am struggling to get the microfibbets to splay to form a three pronged tail.  Can someone explain how you fix these and get them to splay.  I have tried pushing them vertical with my thumb and using a figure of 8 between the fibbets but they want to stay together when I tie them back down.  I can split them with a dubbing needle when completed and they look the part but I fear they will merge as soon as I start fishing them.

Does anyone have a tip on how to resolve this?

[Sandy Nelson]

Hi John

I covered dry fly tails ages ago on this thread
http://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1520.0

however you may notice I dislike microfibbetts, the technique will also work with the fibbetts
but for tails I will always go for Coc de Leon 

cheers

Sandy

[Peter McCallum]

have a look at ollie edwards video, he does this on a couple of dry flys as well as his baetis nymph

[ramjet]

Hi John

I agree with sandy regarding the coq de leon. It makes things so much easier . If you need to use the fibbets then check out davie mcphails sherry spinner video it may give you some help.



Take care

Alan

[John Reid]

Thanks for the comments guys.  I have coq de leon and have had similar issues with it.  I will try these techniques tonight at the vice.

I suppose practice will make perfect.

What are your thoughts on trimming a traditionally tied hackle or folding all the fibers above the hook shank to allow it to sit better on the water?

[Sandy Nelson]

What are your thoughts on trimming a traditionally tied hackle or folding all the fibers above the hook shank to allow it to sit better on the water?

Honestly? I think you should choose a hackle of the correct fibre length before you tie the fly
Practice proportions as well as techniques, its very satisfying and it doesn't take long before you will pick the correct hackles on Auto
If you want to have no fibres below the fly, clip it into a shallow V underneath.

Sandy