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Friday, October 16, 2015

Filoplume Soft Hackle

When I was tying dozens of flies each week for my mail order business through the early 1990's, soft hackles were already popular with the customers.  Once filoplume (or after shaft) feathers were beginning to be used with regular frequency by tiers I copied and added them as a thorax.  Sales took off!

Filoplume is a very underutilized material, perhaps due to it's inherently weak stem, but with the proper tying preparations, this feather adds an extra degree of effectiveness to an already deadly pattern! 

Thread, floss or dubbing in various colors can cover just about any natural insect.  However, my favorites are tied with florescent colors of UTC 70 thread.  Have fun and experiment!

Materials

Hook:  Daiichi 1150 (or TMC 2499SPBL), sizes 10-16
Thread:  UTC 70, color of choice
Body:  Thread  (Chartreuse pictured)
Thorax:  Partridge filoplume
Hackle:  Partridge, gray.

Step 1:

Pinch barb with vise.  Secure hook and start thread one eye length behind the eye and make a few wraps and remove tag end.   We will be building the body with wraps of thread.  Try to keep each wrap flat, floss-like for aesthetic purposes.


Step 2:

Build a taper utilizing thread stopping at the thorax.  A drop of thin head cement may be added to the rear thread wraps if desired.


Step 3:

The best filoplume comes from rump section.  Select a feather with filoplume attached (pictured to the bottom right of the larger feather).  Cut away the tip of the butt section. 


Step 3a:

Split thread and insert filoplume butt (thicker) section up, towards hook.  Keep the stem centred along the thread.


Step 3b:

Spin thread to lock filoplume.


Step 3c:

Moisten fingers and draw fibers rearward and begin wrapping in the thorax.  Do not crowd the eye.


Step 4:

Tie in gray partridge feather by the tip.


Step 4a:

Make one or two wraps.  Secure, whip finish and apply a coat or two of head cement.  Finished!


Enjoy!

3 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Thank you Richard. Hope you're enjoying the blog!

      Respectfully,

      John

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  2. Interesting twist on spinning the plume in a spilt thread. THanks for the idea, John.

    Keith

    ReplyDelete