Begging for help!

[James Mello]

Those damnable mallard style wings on spey flies are driving me nuts! Does anyone here have a good way of tying it? Is it possible to meet up with someone so I can get the skinny? I think some of my issues are technique, but I also don't feel good about selecting "proper" feathers. Info, hate mail, or spam on this are greatly appreciated!

[Cameron Derbyshire]

James,

Check out John Shewey's new book on tying steelhead flies. He has some good descriptions along with photos of tying mallard wing spey flies. Also check out the thread I've listed below:
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php?t=30034.

[James Mello]

James,

Check out John Shewey's new book on tying steelhead flies. He has some good descriptions along with photos of tying mallard wing spey flies. Also check out the thread I've listed below:
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/showthread.php?t=30034.

Dude, you should have that in the articles section... I'm gonna ping Chris to see if he can't do that... *very* nice :)

[FT]

James,

The easiest and quickest way to tie bronze mallard wings (or any wing made from bronze mallard except a "rolled wing") is to use Hale's method. This is a step by step of how to do it:

1) Use bronze mallard feathers that are long enough or short enough (depending on hook size) so you can tie them in by the grey portion of the feather down near the stem. This can't be emphasized enough because if you tie the bronze mallard wing in by any place other than the grey portion near the stem, the wing will split;

2) Take a section of the feather that is 2X's the width you need off a matched pair (one left and one right) of bronze mallard feathers by stripping them from the stem of each feather (this will leave a bit of the outer membrane of the stem on the butts of the feathers, which helps keep them together when you tie them in);

3) Place the sections one on top of the other with the tips even (the left and right feather tips will naturally be slightly splayed off to either side and not completely even all the way across-this is what you want);

4) Put the now doubled-layered section over the hook and make sure the wing is not longer than 1/2 the distance from the barb to the bend (making sure the mallard will be tied in by the grey portion);

5) Hold the wing in place with your left thumb and forefinger slightly tenting it as you do so while not allowing any of the wing to be below the body of the fly and tie it in with 2 turns of thread using the loose loop technique;

6) Check to see that the wing is positioned properly both for length and covering the top of the fly from 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock. If not, adjust by either pulling the wing butts (which will decrease its length slightly), or by using your thumb and forefinger nails to move the sides so the wing lays properly;

7) After the wing looks right, lock it in place with 2 more turns of thread while you hold onto it with your left thumb and forefinger (the thumb and forefinger keep it from being moved as it is locked in place);

8) Trim the butt ends of the mallard very close with fine scissors while holding on to them with your left thumb and forefinger (again this is to keep the wing from being distorted as the butts are being trimmed, remember, you only have 4 turns ofo thread holding it in place);

9) After the butts are trimmed, put a drop of a flexible head cement (I use Dave's Flexamant, but any flexible cement works as well) and whip finish right over the wing butts with flattened thread (spin the bobbin counter clockwise until it is untwisted) and clip the thread.

The fly is now finished, you have a nice small, neat head, and the fly is extremely durable because the wing, thread, and hook are all cemented together.

If you want to see this done in person, I will be at All About the Fly on June 23rd doing a demo on spinning deer hair; but I would be glad to show you how to tie the bronze mallard there if you wish.

[obiwankanobi]

Mello,

The method that FT said is a great method. I have never tried that method but have been able to be successful with mounting bronze mallard wings with practice. If you ever want to watch me tie spey flies, hit me up!!

[Bruce Davidson]

I've been using the same technique as FT has described, with one other step. I was taught that once you have the two sections placed on top of each other, before you tie them, to wet them with your lips so they 'stick together'. That has helped me.