Conan The Librarian wrote:

I was about to answer that I am using the right hackle size,
until I
saw the phrase "same size as the hook gape". I thought it was
supposed
to be between 1 and 1-1/2 times the gape (i.e., more than the gape so

that the fly sits on the hackle rather than the hook

It's probably *supposed* to be the ration you mention, on flies with
long tails, I prefer to keep the hackle the size of the gape. Which
puts it on the smaller end of the spectrum.


Do you use a manufactured guard or a bit of a drinking straw or
some
other homemade guard? I've been playing around with homemade things,

but find that I'm just as well off just using my third hand to hold
the
fibers back. ;-)

I use something I picked up a few years ago, it's metal with a slotted
round and slightly conical head. I looked online in a few places for a
picture but did not find one. I've also used a hair stacker in a pinch,
I tend to carry my wraps out too far and the guard keeps me honest.


I do like your suggestion of moving the wing. I've even been
playing around with tying Wulffs on 2X long dry hooks (TMC 5212?).
To
my eye the proportions still look OK, but I guess the fish will be
the
final arbiters of that. :-}

I tie almost all of my dry flies on 2x long hooks, Otherwise I'd really
be screwed

Thanks for your help. I was starting to think that either it was
a
dumb question and no-one else on ROFF(T) has problems tying Wulffs,
or
*everyone* has problems and no-one had any answers. :-)

I think of those who responded, Mr. Collin probably has the best
experience. The last fly swap I entered, I had to tie almost 60 to get
24 to send.