Fly Tying a traditional dry fly hackle technique with Barry Ord Clarke

[@FlyTyer1948]

Sorry that I’m late to the party. This video just showed up in my feed, & I watched out of curiosity. Even though I’ve been tying since the 80s & learned from some well known tyers, it shows there is always something to learn. This is the first time I’ve ever seen anyone strip those last fibers before the final lock-in of the hackle. What a sensible idea! Thank you.

[@Thefeatherbender]

No problem, your welcome.

[@flytyer2368]

Hello Barry - this is likely the best video showing the proper hackling technique. Cheers.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Glad it was helpful!

[@flytyer2368]

I keep checking my mailbox, waiting for my free, autographed copy of your book. It must have gotten lost in the mail…

[@wvlongshooter3912]

Thank you!!! You’ve really cleaned up my hackle tying with this video, I’m not ashamed to admit this!! Thanks!!!

[@Thefeatherbender]

Glad I could help!

[@robertperman8967]

Very nice! Tight lines🪲🦗🐜!!!!

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thanks

[@duderoony]

Wow! I just can’t believe there’s always another thing to be learnt! I don’t think this will ever stop.. lol. Thanks dude.

[@flyguy4515]

Always something new to learn, that's why I love this hobby💪🏼

[@carlstatham594]

Ahhhh - ha. Now that has upgraded my hackle tying from rubbish to looking like I'm improving. I'll keep practising. Many thanks for sharing.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Birdy, thanks, so pleased that you found it useful, good luck with it.

[@brianstevens3858]

A note on general hackle usage, when doing a woolyworm or other "caterpillar" tie, trim the hackle parallel to the quill before winding, this will give that nice even body and set size so the trimming is minimal after winding.

[@robertfoote3255]

Barry your trying vids are some of the best I have seen......the way you narate and explain your process is second to none..... Best Wishes and Tite lines to you! 🤠

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thank you Robert...

[@raywalteroutdoors]

So smooth. Thank you

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thank you too!

[@Oberangler]

Really well explained

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thanks.

[@ipod1978]

This has helped my dry flies tremendously

[@DrJohn493]

Back to the fly tying bench to practice this technique and hopefully improve my tie in of the hackle where I've been having problems. Thanks for the demonstration!

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thanks John, give it a go and let me know how you get on.

[@Dr._Klopek]

Such a great video, thanks a lot for this

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thank you, so pleased that they are helping you. If you would like to take your tying to the next level, may I suggest: www.amazon.com/Feather-Benders-Flytying-Techniques-Comprehensive-ebook/dp/B07YL83YB1/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3R2LV3IGSRZRY&keywords=barry+ord+clarke&qid=1704697807&s=books&sprefix=barry+ord+clarkre%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C147&sr=1-3#customerReviews

[@randellgribben9772]

thank you for this,it will help a lot

[@Thefeatherbender]

Pleased it helps.

[@dewindoethdwl2798]

So pleased to have stumbled across this video

[@MrBeftackel]

Thats the most beautyful hackle i've ever seen! 😁

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thank you Mr B.

[@reserrvoirman]

Barry thank you my flies will be better now because of you thanks so much for sharing. Be well and all the best.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Stan, glad to hear it!

[@stuartduke999]

Really useful upload Barry , thank you very much . Best wishes from Bolton !😀👍

[@mikewalters4994]

Very GOOD illustration!!. Now I know why I did not have good control of my hackle. I was not tying it in by wrapping the hackle front and back. Thanks for this iillustration.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thanks Mike, good luck with it, let me know how you get on.

[@mikewalters4994]

@@Thefeatherbender after watching this vedio, I seen what I have been doing wrong. I was not wrapping both sides of my hackle stem, I had no control of the hackle fibers, they where going wild. Now that I'm wrapping both sides of the hackle stem, I now have control of my hackle and the fibers than up pretty. I don't know how I missed this little step, but it sure makes a BIG difference. I keep forgetting to tell you, but I really enjoyed the illustration you did in Fly Tying magazine on the Clarke Caddisfly. An ALSOME looking Fly, looks GREAT. Your the BEST !!!...

[@comesahorseman]

👍👍 Thanks!

[@Thefeatherbender]

You bet!

[@MrBrysie]

fantastically simple and so effective. Thanks for posting.

[@MrLpxe]

Really useful technique . Thank you Barry!

[@Thefeatherbender]

Good, glad you found it useful.

[@TheXeniaman]

Superb method. My Catskill style dry flies are much better now.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thanks PA, always good to get positive feedback.

[@nedreiter3869]

Thank you Barry: this technique has greatly improved the look, ease of tying, and most importantly the presentation, of my dry flies (although they still have a long way to go before they are up to your standard!)

[@nathandavies9227]

thanks Barry I needed that, I'm going to try it out now...

[@rayray8212]

Beautiful Barry!!

[@RobertStrahl]

Great video mate 👍

[@bowhunter2712]

Thank you this will help me so much.

[@blackflycreations]

Thanks for sharing! Very clean👌

[@Thefeatherbender]

Thanks for watching!

[@kengotank]

Thank you very much 🙏🙏🙏

[@mountaincreekfliesjimmy8386]

Awesome lesson thank you sir

[@alexandremonlon1943]

very good technic supper

[@AlessandroBina]

Good job!

[@robertcornelius3514]

You, sir, should have been a surgeon.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Too kind!

[@granio95]

what feather is this specifically? Ive never tied dries and need to order that exact feather! great video!

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Grant, it's a Whiting dry fly saddle hackle.

[@granio95]

The feather bender Thanks!

[@Thefeatherbender]

No problem Grant.

[@jimpeacock8226]

How do you prep the hackle? Is there a video on this?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Jim, all you need to do is strip the fibres from one side of the hackle.

[@albaalba3842]

Is it necessary to reinforce the hackle with rib or tying threat after this? Flies like nalle puh or elk hair caddis are nightmare to me, cause i usually trap too many fibers under my rib and the result aint nice. Is there a tutorial about securing the hackle? Sometimes it goes flawlessly and sometimes i trap 30% of hackle under my thread. Any suggestions what might go wrong?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi alba, No not at all, this is a traditional collar hackle and needs NO reinforcement. When you tie a palmered hackle as in Nalle Puh or the elk hair caddis, this can be reinforced with a rib of clear monofilament, fine copper wire orin you are using Dyneema or GSP tying thread you can also use that. There are several techniques that can be used for making a 'clean finish' and avoiding tying down the hackle barbules, but I haven't published these yet i'm afraid. But if you go into my blog thefeatherbender.com/2013/10/24/tying-with-deer-hair-part-3-spinning-ultra-tight-bodies-with-deer-hair/ you may find that this link helps. Good luck.

[@flytire1]

I notice that you mostly use saddle hackles as shown in this video. Will this technique work for cape/neck hackles?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Normand, yes for sure if you have a good quality cape.

[@reserrvoirman]

Can you recommend any brand of hackle you like the most? If not I understand lol.

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Stan, yes no problem, Whiting is by far the best hackle you can see a huge selection here: jimsflyco.com

[@iklink]

just hackle alone no body? does this catch fish?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi, if you read the title, its just a video showing you the hackling technique, but you can add just about any body and tail that you like!

[@iklink]

@@Thefeatherbender OK but does it catch fish?

[@khaliskhalis2055]

sorry i ask so much question cos im only 14 btw is it only a few type of feather can make it or i because i use big feather

[@Thefeatherbender]

No problem, you need to try and get some quality 'genetic hackle' feathers these will help you improve your tying.

[@TheXeniaman]

On Catskill type flies, the hackles in back of the wing are pretty good, however, as I cross under the wings and wind toward the eye the hackles tend to splay some. Any advice on keeping this from happening?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Try running a very fine foundation of dubbing between the wing and the hook eye before you wrap the hackle, this will stop it splaying.

[@TheXeniaman]

@@Thefeatherbender Thank you. That is a great tip. With many, the Catskill type dry flies have fallen out of favor, but I love fishing them still.

[@jarretjordan3837]

@@TheXeniaman me too. I'm a sucker for the classics.

[@Bowriverguy]

Barry, I love your tying style. One question - do you have the dull side or shiny saide of hackle facing forward? Is it usual to have the curved dull side facing forward?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Andre, thank you. It depends on what style of fly you are tying, but generally speaking the shiny side should be facing the hook eye-forward.

[@Bowriverguy]

@@Thefeatherbender Thank you Barry for your reply. The reason I was asking about hackle position, is that a lot of traditional catskills-style dry fly tiers put the dull side forward as they believe the fly floats better with the hackle tied in this way. But, it is harder to keep the hackle fibers away from beyond the hook eye area as they are facing more forward with dull side facing the front. Matter of taste I guess!

[@afdalrahman7043]

What kind of brand dry hackle did you use on this video?

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi Agdal, its a Whiting silver grade dry fly saddle hackle.

[@afdalrahman7043]

Orait sir...thanks for the info...

[@Yuretsby]

Half of a feather makes a propeller and twists a thin tippet...

[@Thefeatherbender]

Hi, Never in over thirty years has it twisted my leader...