This is the second installment of Feathers – Tip’s, Trick’s & Common Mistakes, which can be downloaded FREE from www.saltyflytying.com
If you are using really webbie feathers, you can trim a section of the quill, but make sure you leave some of the barbs attached to the stem of the feather. Although there is not a large volume of bars left attached, this added width will provide more surface area and help to keep the feather from sliding out of place or spinning when thread pressure is applied.
Often, fly tying beginners will strip away a section of barbs from the quill in order to make it easier to see their wraps when tying in a single or multiple feathers. This exposes the bare quill or Richis of the feather. Depending on what type of feather is being used, the round or triangular quill of the feather is cinched down against other round feathers and a round surface of the hook and you guessed it… the feathers roll every which way. Keeping those barbules on the quill is crucial to securing the feathers in the position they were intended.
Download my free eBook by clicking the icon to your right to read the rest of my tip’s, trick’s & common mistakes.
Keep Your Wraps Tight & Feathers Straight
-Drew