Hairwing Fly Dressings

A place to discuss the collecting and tying of classic flies, the tyers who made them famous, the tools, materials and techniques they used as well as the waters they were designed for. While classic is generally used to describe old things, classic is also used in the sense of first class or in the highest form. Therefore a fully dressed Salmon Fly, or a Carrie Stevens Streamer are just as much classics as a Chernobyl Ant would be. Enjoy the forum.

Moderators: Ken M 44, joaniebo

Post Reply
joaniebo
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 4018
Joined: 11/07/05 19:00
Location: IL

Hairwing Fly Dressings

#1

Post by joaniebo »

Quite a few wet fly dressings are tied with a wing OVER the “wound” hackle, although a few call for a small “beard” with a wing. But many hairwing salmon flies call for a “beard” and the hairwing tied on top of the hook (no wound hackle(.

Does anyone tie their hairwinged flies using several turns of wound hackle and then place the wing on top of the wound hackle?

User avatar
gt05254
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 2167
Joined: 11/16/07 19:00
Location: Bennington, VT
Contact:

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#2

Post by gt05254 »

Many tyers tie the "beard" as a wound hackle, then pull it down and tie it in as a throat, then tie the hairwing in over top. I don't do it that way...too much like work. Don't see many (any?) patterns where the wing is tied in on top of the wound hackle. would kind of defeat the purpose, I think.
Gary

16pmd
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 2104
Joined: 07/17/05 10:39

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#3

Post by 16pmd »

Many, if not most hairwing steelhead flies are tied with the wing tied on after a wound hackle, but not on top of the hackle. The hackle is doubled or folded so that when it's wound on it's automatically slanted back in a cone-shaped collar - no need to wind over it to make it slant back. Then the wing is tied on immediately in front of that collar. If the wing is tied on top of the hackle, the head will be fat and bulbous, but ifthe wing is tied right in front of the hackle, the head will be slim and neat.

Image
Image

User avatar
Silver Doctor
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1251
Joined: 06/13/08 18:00
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#4

Post by Silver Doctor »

I prefer using the Beard Method. more control and keeps the tie in area smooth for topping and wing materials.

Image

joaniebo
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 4018
Joined: 11/07/05 19:00
Location: IL

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#5

Post by joaniebo »

I asked after I saw this pic with the hackle in front of the wing.

Image

User avatar
Norm Frechette
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1183
Joined: 09/04/12 08:41
Location: Norwich, CT

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#6

Post by Norm Frechette »

Image

some recipes call for the wing after the collar (skykomish sunrise)

Image

and some recipes call for the wing before the collar (forrest powell)

Image

while some call for a beard/throat (ferry canyon)

i tend to tie them using the sequence in the established recipe

example

Skykomish Sunrise

Hook - Allen SS001
Thread - Red
Tag - Flat silver tinsel
Tail - Red and yellow hackle fibers, mixed
Ribbing - Oval silver tinsel
Body - Red chenille. Angora goat dubbing may be substituted
Hackle - One red hackle and one yellow hackle, wound together
Wing - White calftail

Forrest Powell

Hook - Gamakatsu T10-6H
Thread - Orange or red
Tail - Red hackle fibers
Body - Hot orange chenille
Wing - White bucktail
Hackle - Red
Last edited by Norm Frechette on 11/13/21 09:47, edited 1 time in total.

WiFlyFisher
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1557
Joined: 03/19/12 10:29

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#7

Post by WiFlyFisher »

Bob,

I tie hairwing steelhead wet flies, Pass Lake and hairwing Royal Coachman wet flies with the wing in front of the hackle beard.

John

User avatar
Norm Frechette
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1183
Joined: 09/04/12 08:41
Location: Norwich, CT

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#8

Post by Norm Frechette »

16pmd wrote:
11/12/21 21:10
The hackle is doubled or folded so that when it's wound on it's automatically slanted back in a cone-shaped collar - no need to wind over it to make it slant back.
that seems to be my kryptonite. cant get it to fold back properly. more practice needed :)

User avatar
Silver Doctor
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1251
Joined: 06/13/08 18:00
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#9

Post by Silver Doctor »

There are no absolutes in fly tying. Try a few different ways and see what works for you.

ted patlen
Master Guide
Posts: 408
Joined: 01/25/11 19:00

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#10

Post by ted patlen »

I think it's simply a matter of choice. A full hackle over the wing pushes water is highly visible and slows sink rate. Lot to discuss here.

User avatar
Silver Doctor
Bamboo Fanatic
Posts: 1251
Joined: 06/13/08 18:00
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Contact:

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#11

Post by Silver Doctor »

joaniebo wrote:
11/12/21 21:41
I asked after I saw this pic with the hackle in front of the wing.

Image
Many years ago when this was a popular style we called it Halo style hackle. Not sure if that term is still used or it was a local tern in British Columbia at that time.

AMCJR
Member
Posts: 6
Joined: 03/03/18 19:50

Re: Hairwing Fly Dressings

#12

Post by AMCJR »

The original classic Pass Lake pattern always has the hairwing tied in last, after the hackle.

Post Reply

Return to “Collecting and Tying Classic Flies”