FLYMPH FORUM

A solution for tiny delicate hackles of any type is a micro-vascular clamp. You can find them on the internet and are commonly used for eye surgery. Excellent for tiny dry fly hackle too though with the genetic hackles being 6-12 inches long these days the need is a lot less than days of yore.
Here is a picture comparing the micro clamp with a standard Herb Howard hackle plier. The obvious advantage is how narrow the tip is.

Wow, that would be perfect. Thank you very much for the suggestion. The search begins!

Tworod,

Are the jaws on your clamp smooth or serrated?

Thanks- Ken

tworod - Your suggestion will add to my growing collection of hackle pliers. Always nice to have options to suit the task at hand. In hindsight I probably should have been using the blue pair in the middle. They have a nice spring mechanism which stretches to gently to protect delicate hackle.



Dana - Here is a close up picture of the finished flies (spool of Pearsall's silk to show scale).

FlyFisherMann1955 wrote: ↑Sat Feb 03, 2024 7:38 am Tworod,

Are the jaws on your clamp smooth or serrated?

Thanks- Ken

Serrated and given the intended surgical use they are very gentle on hackles whether at the stem or tip.

Okay, the search is on. I've tried the Dr Slick "Extra Hand Tweezer", which are serrated, but I still break the tips off some the starling feathers with them.

Thanks- Ken

Thank you Ray. That’s really a tremendous pattern.