Tying in pheasant tippets

[longcast69]

Good morning gents.

Recently started tying my own salmon flies after many years of threatening to take the plunge!! One issue I'm having is tying in pheasant tippets; they just don't want to sit right. Sometimes at an angle, sometimes too flat, sometimes too flared. This issue has made me swear, ALOT!!

Any hints and tips would be much appreciated

Cheers

[ballingall512]

I find when tying in tippets the best way to get a good result is...

firstly select a tippet of the right size, don't go too big.
strip away any material you don't require, I normally leave about twice the width of the finnished wing.
Then using your thumb and finger, double over the tippets so that the brighter fibres are on top and at the bottom, then roll the fibres back and forth between your thumb and finger, this will cause them to sit a bit slimmer.
When you tie them in, try and not tie on toop of the tippet fibres as this will cause them to spread. tie in on the feather stem.
once tied in, double the stem rearwards and secure again, this will stop twisting and moving of the wing to the sides.
If you want the fibres to fan out a bit, gently tap them with your finger and they will start to open out a bit.

Search the forum sbs section I'm sure their is something in there.

Or have a look on you tube at davie mcphails tying of the general practitioner. he shows clearly how to tie them in.

Hoope this helps.

dave.