64 HOW TO TIE SALMON FLIES. 



and perhaps the easiest, is to hold the feather 

 (previously stripped of fluff) as shown in the 

 illustration. The wrong, or under side of the 

 feather must be upwards. After getting the 

 feather into the position shown, with the thumb 

 and forefinger of the right hand draw the fibres 



Fig. 41. 



upwards, and towards the root of the feather, 

 or, in other words, against the grain of the fibres, 

 which is the secret of success. In the illustration 

 this has already been done, leaving the fibres in 

 the doubled position. If you prefer it, the root 

 end of the feather can be held in the nippers, 

 and the point between the forefinger and thumb. 

 The second method, not so easy at first, is to 

 hold one pair of nippers, which grasp the root end 

 of the hackle, in the palm of the left hand, as 

 shown, leaving the forefinger and thumb free. 

 The second pair of pliers, grasping the point of 

 the hackle, is held in the right hand ; in this case 

 the best or out side of the hackle is uppermost. 

 To double the fibres, press the forefinger and 



