Welcome to the latest installment of our series of videos called “One-Minute Fly-Tying Tips and Techniques” from Tim Flagler of Tightline Productions. Each video will teach a single tying skill, from the most basic to the advanced. Ultimately, the series will serve as a sort of encyclopedia of tying skills that will be a valuable resource for anyone who sits down at a vise to create a fly.
One of the keys to a well-proportioned fly pattern is using the correct size hackle. And it’s not just about the appearance of the fly, as most dry-fly patterns depend on a certain length of hackle to ride properly on the water. In this great video, Tim shows you how to use a hackle gauge, as well as how to measure on the hook itself. Follow Tim’s advice, and you’ll produce better-looking flies that catch more fish.
Don’t you have to figure in how much the body of the fly adds length to the hackle ,since it will be thicker than the bare hook