This is the ninth installment of Feathers – Tip’s, Trick’s & Common Mistakes, which can be downloaded FREE from www.saltyflytying.com
Married Hackles – Feather Curve Together
“Marrying the hackles” refers to placing the concave or undersides of the feathers together. Another common term for this technique is “Praying Hands.” When wet, all the feathers come together and look as one. This technique is often used on classic patterns such as Lefty’s Deceiver or Stu Apte’s Apte II.
Splayed Hackles – Feather Curve Apart
The opposite of praying hands is splayed hackle. This means that the feathers are lined up at the tips and tied onto the hook so the convex sides of the feathers are facing each other. When wet the 2 pairs of feathers separate and appear to “kick” when stripped. This technique is often used for crab claws or on Keys Style Tarpon Flies.
Tented Hackles – Feather Curve Together But Open At Bottom
Tented hackles are married hackles that are slightly opened at the bottom and touching at the top, to create tent shape. This technique is often used to emulate the V shaped back of a baitfish. When wet, the two pairs of hackles swim as one, and create a wider more cylindrical-shaped profile. Johnny King uses this technique when tying his Kinky Muddler patterns.
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Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight
-Drew