Conan The Librarian wrote:

I've tried tying the hackle in both ways (i.e., shiny side facing

the shank and dull side facing the shank), but it seems that the last

move of the hackle around the wing always screws up the position of
the
hackle and causes it to splay. I can usually salvage things by
holding
the stray fibers back before the next wrap, but I'm guessing I must
be
missing something obvious.

Any ideas of what I might be doing wrong or helpful hints from
you
more experienced tiers (tyers ... tires ... tyres)?


Chuck Vance (and while I've got your attention, how many wraps
do
you try to get in front of and behind the wings?)

If Harry Mason or AK Best chime in, disregard what I say

Are you using the right sized hackle for the hook? I don't use a guage
anymore, I just check that the fiber length is the same size as the
hook gape.

Anyway for what it is worth, on a wulff or humpy type tie, I moved the
calf tail back so it is a little more than 1/3 shank length distance to
the hook eye. I tie in both a brown hackle and a grizzly hackle infront
of the herl, wrap each fiber tightly twice behind the calf tail and
three times in front, as tight and as close to the calf tail as
possible. Sometimes I use a small hackle guard behind the eye to keep
me from getting too close the eye.

Good luck.