skiltonian
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2007
- Messages
- 743
What are the pros and cons of using hackle too big for the hook?
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Over hackle-ing?
- Thread starter skiltonian
- Start date
TimMurphy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2006
- Messages
- 4,449
Dear skiltonian,
I can think of one major con. Fishing a heavily over-hackled dry fly on a leader that is sized for the hook and not the hackle will likely create a ton of twist in your tippet. Using Maxima Chameleon tippet can help because it is stiffer, but most people don't like it for that reason. I think Maxima Chameleon is fine myself.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
I can think of one major con. Fishing a heavily over-hackled dry fly on a leader that is sized for the hook and not the hackle will likely create a ton of twist in your tippet. Using Maxima Chameleon tippet can help because it is stiffer, but most people don't like it for that reason. I think Maxima Chameleon is fine myself.
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
Streammagic237
Well-known member
Pro - you don't have to buy others feathers
Con - your flys look like mine 😅
Will leave this to pros to give a knowledgeable answer as I have wondered this to and do not own a Hackle gauge.
Con - your flys look like mine 😅
Will leave this to pros to give a knowledgeable answer as I have wondered this to and do not own a Hackle gauge.
tomgamber
Well-known member
Ask the fish
Bamboozle
Well-known member
First off, hackle proportion is VERY subjective with the oft mentioned 1-1/2 to 2 times the hook gape needed IF you want a certain look or to keep the hook completely off the water.
That being said, I don't give a rats arse because I fish stuff with the hackle trimmed flush on the bottom and the fish don't care.
For the record, I tie parachutes with oversized hackle at least a size or so larger than usual because I find with it, they land upright more often and float better, especially in broken water.
I tie my Elk Wing Caddis (EWC) with palmered hackle and I like it just BARELY longer than the hook gap. Why, I don't know, I just do.
I also tie many single feather (versus Marinaro 2 feather versions) Thorax dry flies with hackle of a similar length to my EWC.
Most of my emerger patterns don't use any hackle, and with midges I take what I can get. 😉
FWIW - Most hackle gauges are at 1-1/2 time the hook gape so if I am using my preferred Whiting 100 Packs for dry flies, I use a size or two larger for parachutes and a size smaller for other dry flies. If I size my own hackle from necks or saddles for parachutes or other dry flies, I size them accordingly.
In regards to leader twisting, over sized DOUBLE wings, widely splayed double wings, double wings or too long single wing posts give me twisting issues more than anything. For that reason IF I tie any fly that calls for split wings that ISN'T going in a shadow box...
I use a single correctly sized poly wing post instead.
BTW - IF you are experiencing bad twisting and a heavier or stiffer tippet doesn't help and you don't want to butcher your fly, SLOW DOWN your line speed dramatically, which helps a LOT.
That being said, I don't give a rats arse because I fish stuff with the hackle trimmed flush on the bottom and the fish don't care.
For the record, I tie parachutes with oversized hackle at least a size or so larger than usual because I find with it, they land upright more often and float better, especially in broken water.
I tie my Elk Wing Caddis (EWC) with palmered hackle and I like it just BARELY longer than the hook gap. Why, I don't know, I just do.
I also tie many single feather (versus Marinaro 2 feather versions) Thorax dry flies with hackle of a similar length to my EWC.
Most of my emerger patterns don't use any hackle, and with midges I take what I can get. 😉
FWIW - Most hackle gauges are at 1-1/2 time the hook gape so if I am using my preferred Whiting 100 Packs for dry flies, I use a size or two larger for parachutes and a size smaller for other dry flies. If I size my own hackle from necks or saddles for parachutes or other dry flies, I size them accordingly.
In regards to leader twisting, over sized DOUBLE wings, widely splayed double wings, double wings or too long single wing posts give me twisting issues more than anything. For that reason IF I tie any fly that calls for split wings that ISN'T going in a shadow box...
I use a single correctly sized poly wing post instead.
BTW - IF you are experiencing bad twisting and a heavier or stiffer tippet doesn't help and you don't want to butcher your fly, SLOW DOWN your line speed dramatically, which helps a LOT.
Pros
- you will use feathers you would otherwise not use
- you will catch just as many fish
- nobody will know of your indiscretions
Cons
- you won’t get your gold level fly tying masters certificate
- gold level fly tying masters will talk behind your back about your lack of mastery
- you will use feathers you would otherwise not use
- you will catch just as many fish
- nobody will know of your indiscretions
Cons
- you won’t get your gold level fly tying masters certificate
- gold level fly tying masters will talk behind your back about your lack of mastery
Dr.J 1952
Active member
I took fly tying lessons from an expert fly tier thirty three years ago. I also worked alongside him for three or four years as an assistant in his fly tying classes. It seemed every year he did something different in tying the same fly the previous year. IMO, nothing is etched in stone when it comes to fly tying. I’ve incorporated what I was taught and my own techniques into my fly tying over the years. You learn from your mistakes and what works for you. If it works for you, fine. My friend ties flies on size 18 and 20 nymph and dry fly hooks that are nothing more than a few turns of UV ice dubb in olive and gray. We’ve both caught fish on limestone streams with them. In this sport, experience is the best teacher. It took me about 2-3 years to catch on. I’ve been trout fishing now for 48 years and exclusively fly fishing for 33. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and try something different.
