Looks great. When I do that I add a couple of strands of wire, which helps with durability.
Yes, same here! I attended a tying demonstration at a local fly shop in the mid 90's and the way he twisted ostrich herl and fine wire into a natural "chenille" changed my fly tying. I use that technique all the time now for different materials.Alec Jackson was the first person I saw twisting wire and tinsel into peacock herl and ostrich.
I gave up on wire because it cuts the peacock herl sometimes. I’m experimenting with the crystal flash for reinforcement. If it doesn’t work I’ll add a strand of 6/0 thread.Looks great. When I do that I add a couple of strands of wire, which helps with durability.
Me too. He did some amazing things with the twisted silver wire and silk floss as tags on steelhead flies. The attached photo is from a shadow box with an original Alec Jackson fly. Some of the folks on the forum who like fancy Steelhead flies can probably apply this technique.Alec Jackson was the first person I saw twisting wire and tinsel into peacock herl and ostrich.
I sometimes use 5x tippet counterwrap, and have twisted it in the herl rope as well.I gave up on wire because it cuts the peacock herl sometimes. I’m experimenting with the crystal flash for reinforcement. If it doesn’t work I’ll add a strand of 6/0 thread.
That looks awesome!I made this chenille body for a leech with 4 strands of peacock twisted with 2 strands of red crystal flash and 2 strands of root beer crystal flash. Wishing I had blue instead of the root beer. Flashabou won’t work.
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I tie in my herl; pull the bobbin straight down; pin the herl/thread with hackle pliers; and spin the two together…then wrap.I gave up on wire because it cuts the peacock herl sometimes. I’m experimenting with the crystal flash for reinforcement. If it doesn’t work I’ll add a strand of 6/0 thread.