Spey wings...finally did it...I think!!!

[Scott Behn]

Well I think I have finally figured out how to prepare and set the goose type wings on spey patterns. Now as soon as I get ahold of some bronze mallard I'll give them a try.

Here is a Blue Charm on an AJ #1.5 that I did it on.

:cool:

[Bruce Davidson]

Nice looking fly Scott. Not sure how you did it but this is how I learned to done bronze mallard over 20 years ago:

Cut out your match set and lay on on top of the other. Pick them up and while keeping a tight grip, run them through your lips to moisten them. While still 'stuck' together, lay them on top of the fly and carefully wrap your thread, gradually tightening them. You can use your thumb and forefinger of your non-thread hand to keep the feathers centered, and depending on the width, you may need to 'bunch' them together a bit at the base.

I'm certainly not suggesting this is the 'right' way or the 'book' way. In fact, I don't know what is. It's just the way I was taught a long time ago and it works easily for me.

[FT]

Scott,

Tying bronze mallard spey wings is really rather easy, most people just assume it is difficult because they have never seen someone do it and most discriptions in tying books make it more difficult than it need be.

The easiest way is by using the method Hale describes in his book on Salmon Flies. This book was published back in the late 1800's; but it is still in print by the Fly Fisher's Classic Library (they have a web site) out of England, which is where I got my copy from about 10 years ago,

Anyhow, getting back to how you tie bronze mallard spey wings. 1) as Hatman already mentioned, cut (or strip) a section 2x wider than needed to make the wing from both a left and a right feather; 2) lay them one on top of the other with the tips even; 3) put them on the hook by folding them down around the top sides of the hook (this causes the wing to lay low and partially envelope the top of the body) with your left thumb and forefinger; 4) tie them in with 2 wraps of thread and look to see if they are placed where you want them and that they are of the right length; and finally 5) put on 2 more wraps of thread, cut the stubbs while you hold the wing with your left thumb and forefinger, put a drop of cement on the now cut-off wing stubs, and finish the head by whip finishing over the cement coated wing stubs. Simple, elegant, and easy to do method of tying bronze mallard spey wings.