Fishing The Fly Scotland

Index => Fly Tying => Topic started by: James Laraway on 28/02/2019 at 14:48

Title: how do you get peacock herl to lie nicely along salmon flies
Post by: James Laraway on 28/02/2019 at 14:48

I've been tying up a few monkeys for the new season , and lots of people add peacock herl along the top of them, or the same when added to other flies like this nice example  :z14

(https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/gallery/11649-280219144736.png) (https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=5426)

seriously how is that done ? When i tie in peacock it goes all over the bloomin place.

any suggetions on how to get it to lie nicely in the shape you want ?

Title: Re: how do you get peacock herl to lie nicely along salmon flies
Post by: Hamish Young on 01/03/2019 at 18:18

In the past I have steamed it into place over a boiling pan of water which is fine so long as the rest of the wing is 'hardy' to that.
These days I tend to leave the herl between leaves of a book a couple of days before tying - usually does the job  :z16

H

Title: Re: how do you get peacock herl to lie nicely along salmon flies
Post by: Dave Medlyn on 20/05/2019 at 07:11

One of the trickiest feather I know to manipulate. There is lots of swearing involved usually!!
I like that book idea!!

Title: Re: how do you get peacock herl to lie nicely along salmon flies
Post by: Cameron deBoth on 22/05/2019 at 14:31

Was watching a tying video today by Davie McPhail and remembered about this post. He does exactly this and gives some tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCMrciaqSg&t=60s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdCMrciaqSg&t=60s)

Title: Re: how do you get peacock herl to lie nicely along salmon flies
Post by: Stuart Cullen on 04/07/2019 at 11:43

Try my idea of sliding a  4mm silicone pellet bait band used by coarse anglers over the herl.  It should hold it down firmly enough without damage whilst you tie them in and adjust them to your liking. Then slide the band down the hook to remove.
 after tying. It might work. Loads of bands  on eBay for a couple of quid.