Different Strokes - Soft Hackles

[Mike Barrio]

Bit of a bummer if the hackle quill breaks, but always good to see that there isn't a right way, or a wrong way, just whatever suits you best 

[James Laraway]

Makflies videos are very good

[Mike Barrio]

Makflies videos are very good

Absolutely 

[Kerry Jordan]

Coincidentally I found the same video a couple of days ago, and find it so much easier tying the fine hackle tip down the shank of the hook than just behind the eye. It seems more secure also.
Now if I could just find some partridge hackles small enough for a size 16 hook...

[Sandy Nelson]

Split the the thread Kerry, use it like a dubbing loop and then you can set the length of the fibres and any feather can fit a small hook 

[Mike Barrio]

Coincidentally I found the same video a couple of days ago, and find it so much easier tying the fine hackle tip down the shank of the hook than just behind the eye. It seems more secure also.

That's what I was saying Kerry - it's great that we can use whatever feels best or comes naturally to us.

Most things in fly fishing are like that, which all adds to our enjoyment.

[Kerry Jordan]

Thanks Sandy. I do use split dubbing loops for various tyings but I want to make conventional spiders with sparse hackle barbs arranged radially around the head of the fly like spokes on a bike wheel. I can't see how you can do this once you twist up the dubbing loop.

[Kerry Jordan]

PS I did stroke the barbs back but can't get a nice inline radial configuration.

[Sandy Nelson]

Mine always look like this 





Even when I use a hackle stalk I wind the thread through the hackle for strength. A lot of the traditional ones were tied like that so they last longer, especially with soft stalks.

Always fun to see how other folk do it 
I've been doing it like this a long a time

https://www.fishingthefly.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2554.0

[James Laraway]

one of mine (grouse hackle)

[Kerry Jordan]

I'll give it another go....