FLY-TYING 45 



and run the silk from head to tail and back again to 

 the head. (4) Wrap on the body material, hold in the 

 fly tweezers as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. (5) Wrap 

 on the hackle and tie off with two or three turns and 

 two half-hitches. Trim off all ends and apply celluloid 

 varnish to the head. (6) To wrap a Palmer, start one 

 hackle at the tail and the other at the head. The 

 fibres should be short. The body is of peacock herl 

 ribbed with tinsel. Wrap on the peacock and then the 

 tinsel and tie off at the end. 



To tie a split-winged dry fly, select a suitable 

 feather that does not split readily, such as a wood- 

 cock, starling or jay (Fig. 5). Cut a piece twice the 

 width of the required wings, and work carefully into 

 a rectangular shape with the forefinger. Double it 

 over along the fibres and not against them. Tie on 

 to the head of the fly (Fig. 6) ; after that the hackle 

 and body should be dressed, as in a hackle fly (Figs. 

 7 and 8). Throw a half-hitch over the end of the 

 wings, draw the silk tight, wrap off three or four 

 times and knot off. Trim the ends of the wings and 

 varnish. 



A down-winged wet fly is rather differently tied. 

 The wings should be rather large, as they lose length 

 when tied back. Tie the hackle and body as before 

 (Figs. 9 and 10). Cut a suitable piece from a feather 

 twice the width of the required wings and work 

 between the thumb and forefinger until it is rect- 

 angular in shape. Double it down the centre in the 

 direction of the fibres not across them. Hold it 

 tightly on to the hook with the left forefinger and 

 thumb in the position indicated in Figs, n and 12. 

 Then throw a half-hitch over the end of the wings 

 and tighten down. 



