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AKA: Feather tip wings - dry fly

Feather tips for use as wings for a dry fly are most often taken from hackles but other feathers such as hen, blackbird, pigeon etc. are also used. Feather tip wings tied from fowl tips are generally thin and delicate but tips from other types of feathers can be a little more robust. In either case feather tip wings should be symmetrically positioned above the hook with the wings separated by an angle of between 70 degrees and 90 degrees. As for other dry fly upright wings they should be at least as long as the hackle and up to 150% of the hackle length.

Process

A	Take the two matching feather tips in your right hand with the back side(dull side)  facing outward for each feather tip. Carefully place them over the tie in thread with one slip on each side of the hook shank.

B	Without moving the feather slips swap your grip on them from the right hand to the left hand. get used to sliding the thumb and fore finger of the left hand onto the material to be tied in and the shank of the hook ready to undertake a fly tiers pinch. If your happy with the length of the feather slips, that there even and that there in the correct position proceed to the next step. If you not happy with the length of the feather slips, can see that there uneven or that there in the wring position go back to the previous step.

C	Do a loose fly tiers pinches and then slowly pull it tightly closed locking the feathers into position. Do a couple of tight wraps of thread to ensure that the slips are secured into position. Use the fingers of your left hand to stand the wing slips upright and take a few wraps of thread directly in front of the wings to maintain that stance.

D	Trim the butt end of the feather slips off horizontally.

E	Tie the remaining butt end down on the hook shank. Just a little manipulation with your fingers will be enough to spread the wings into their finished position which is upright with an angle approaching 90 degrees separating them.

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