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Well, I have to thank you all. Success !!!! upto a point. I used a slightly bigger hook, found opposite feathers and pulled the thread upwards tying in the wings. It helped a lot and worked a treat for me. Below attached is my version of a Leadwing Coachman. I didn’t have all the exact materials, so I made it up. It’s on a 12 hook and is my first attempt at this pattern.
Cheers everyone and thanks once again for your help.
Attachments:
Good work Rob,that will do nicely.I wouldn’t be too concerned about improvising with materials.In my view recipes are there as a guide.
If you have trouble working with wing slips, try giving them a light spray with hair spray or artist’s fixative before tying.
if it’s a wet you’re tying you need to prepare for a lower wing at the body’s ‘head’. a flat platform will suffice which will also allow for a beard for ballast… then tie off your head.
basically tie your wing in with two or three wraps and then physically place the wing by pulling tips downward. add your beard (if’n you want) and then tie off the head.
a lower wing will drift through the water whereas a high-winged wet may spin.
cheers mate,
shawn
Thanks Shawn. I wasn’t sure how I could get the wing more streamlined, but I understand what you’re saying. Your help is welcome and I’ll try it. In the meantime, I’m having a rest from wings today and trying these. I’m going to throw them up on the “What are you tying” page.
Hello Rowboat, to evenly cut your wings from a feather use two pins pushed thru a piece of balsa wood stick to match the gape of the hook. You can make several to match each hook size. I also spray my feathers with workable fixative to keep them flat and not to split when tied in. I often tie matched duck feathers for wings on dry flies …. if you pinch the thread above the feathers and then pull straight down this crushes the feather onto the top of the hook and dry fly feathers will sit right . It is a similar process for wets.
Find good feathers to use this is a must and matched feathers make things much easier, thread thickness and economy of thread ( number of wraps) come with experience. Having a good light and magnifier makes all the difference if you can see clearly then it is much easier.Best of Luck.
Dont give up and practice.
Hello Rowboat, to evenly cut your wings from a feather use two pins pushed thru a piece of balsa wood stick to match the gape of the hook. You can make several to match each hook size. I also spray my feathers with workable fixative to keep them flat and not to split when tied in. I often tie matched duck feathers for wings on dry flies …. if you pinch the thread above the feathers and then pull straight down this crushes the feather onto the top of the hook and dry fly feathers will sit right . It is a similar process for wets.
Find good feathers to use this is a must and matched feathers make things much easier, thread thickness and economy of thread ( number of wraps) come with experience. Having a good light and magnifier makes all the difference if you can see clearly then it is much easier.Best of Luck.
Dont give up and practice.
Thanks JC2 I’ll take that on board.
I have a good head magnifier which I do find essential. A good light, yes I can sort that. I didn’t know about a homemade tool to divide a feather section … useful … as is the fixative ( I suppose “gossamer” hairspray would be what you are talking about) …. and feather selection is always a bit of a challenge for me through inexperience. Cheers, Rob
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