FLYMPH FORUM

It's been ages since I've been active on the forum, high time to get back into it. I've been keeping an eye on all the beautiful contributions from everyone and hope to be around more often, life's slightly more stable atm.

I'm feeling bloody rusty at tying soft hackles! I had a half hour break today and decided to tie 2 and take some snaps to share. I think the last soft hackles I tied were for a swap in December.

Here they are warts n all;


Fatty
Iron Comp Hanak H 200 BL 12#
Thread Uni 6/0 Orange
Hackle Golden Plover
Underbody Hends white stretch thread
Abdomen 4 twisted strands of Hends body quill BQ-03, BQ-06, BQ-30 & BQ-39
Thorax Hares mask plus orange antron






Skinny
Iron Comp. Hank H 130 BL 14#
Thread Uni 8/0 Rst. Brown
Hackle Golden Plover
Underbody Hends white stretch thread
Abdomen 3 twisted strands of Hends body quill BQ-03, BQ-06 & BQ-39
Thorax Hares mask plus orange antron

Where are the warts? I"m gobsmacked, mate. These are lovely, as are the photos. Wow!

Is that a LAWS vice? (Jealous )

I have recently started playing around with the body quill material, but need some guidance. Is it normally twisted before wrapping?

Thanks Ray, you're being kind...

Well spotted on the Law vise front. I went from using a Thompson A kit vise for 10+ years to investing in the Law. The best fly tying tool I've ever bought period.

Good to hear that your using the quill material. I'm certainly no expert, not sure if there's a right or wrong, I've just experimented. I often use a stretch thread to create the underbody shape I'm after, as the quill is so thin. White is the colour of choice if you want colour integrity. I sometimes use a colour underbody for a darker effect.
If wrapping a single strand use light even tension otherwise it splays and frays. You can wrap from the start of the abdomen near the hook eye to the rear near the hook point in touching turns then spiral it back in more open turns. I've also twisted strands like in the above flies which gives you a round variegated cord.
If you don't twist it into a tight cord and twist it lightly you get a textured slightly less uniform look. I'm sure there are plenty of other ways to use it, these are the few I've played around with. Nine out of ten times I wrap a single strand as I like the slim body it gives with just the right amount of reflection/flash.

If I get time I'll post some examples mate.

K

I did a quick Google search to find out about Hend's Body Quill. Was a bit surprised to find out it is a spooled synthetic material. I like the look of it and may have to find a stockist here in the US. Wonderful looking flies and excellent photography.

Karsten, howdy.....was getting worried about you.

Great shots and flies. Thanks for sharing these and keeping in touch. Pretty nice body material. I've seen it used but never tried it myself. Looks great twisting the strands together like this.

Your post reminded me of a childhood rhyme

"Fatty and Skinny went to bed, Fatty rolled over and Skinny was dead." I don't think it was from Mother Goose.

Thanks Ron - If you struggle to find it, jot me pm and I'll send you a few spools.

Heya Carl, always good to hear from you mate. Thanks for thinking of me, life's slowly getting back on track so I hope to hang around and start contributing again. When I order my next stash of body quill I'll send you some. If anyone can work out the best way to use the stuff it'd have to be you my friend.

K

Thats a good way to make a re-entrance! Great looking bugs Karsten, really great. That body material looks awesome!

I have picked up a few spools of that stuff over the past couple of years, always kind of wondered how to use it! Being very fine but with the body quill name kind of lead to confusion, guess that might have been why it was in the sales bin!
Great idea on a possible way to use it though Karsten, fine looking ties.

Karsten, I appreciate the offer. I did find some retailers in the US that carried Hends products, but only in very limited colors. I hit the old Google search and found that the Fly Tying Boutique in Yorkshire carried the full line so I placed an order with them for most of the colors. I'm looking forward to playing with it when it arrives.

Karsten, it's great to see you back and sharing your talent, both the flies and the pics. Love the body material too.