Making Soft Hackle Feathers Shorter

[MD_Gene]

Years ago I saw at least one video showing ways to make your soft hackles shorter when tying on smaller hooks. I can’t find them now. If anyone can point me to some or even one I would appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[iirz]

Could it have been this one?

 

[falcon]

Take a longer feather and tie forward over the eye of the hook. Distribute the hacckle by using your fingers to roll around the hook. Use a empty pen or your fingers to push the hackle rearward and fasten down. I think Tim Flagler has a video demonstration. iirz beat me too it.

 

[Ed007]

I'm not the best at tying, but couldn't you just create a dubbing loop(like you do for cdc) and measure the feathers to length?

 

[PennKev]

I'm not the best at tying, but couldn't you just create a dubbing loop(like you do for cdc) and measure the feathers to length?

Yes, but you need to trim the butts of the fibers very close to the thread loop or else the fly can look rather messy. Particularly on smaller flies. I use this method a lot with larger sized hen saddle feathers. The Whiting Brahma hen saddles for instance, are great feathers, but most are too large for the wets and nymphs I tie. Using a dubbing loop works great to utilize these feathers. So well, that I rarely use partridge feathers anymore, substituting the brahma hen instead. I know that I can always have appropriate fiber length by utilizing the dubbing loop method.