Hackles .... say "When!"

[Hans Weilenmann]

*chuckle*

I can relate to most, if not all, of the tales and experiences above.
These days I apply the number of turns until the pattern tells me to stop. I listen, and tie off. A bit like this thread's subject line

Cheers,
Hans W

[FliTrap]

And I thought I was alone.... Wow!
It seems my story starts off much like some have said... But there was a time where I started sneaking in extra hackle. It wasn't like just adding a rap.... no.. I got creative... I started rapping the traditional 1 1/2 to 2 raps, with a properly sized feather.... then when no one was looking, I would slip out another feather about 1/2 the standard and add these extra, shorted barbs, deep down between the others.
When questioned about this tendency, ( yes, I got caught...) I made up stories... telling people that these were my secret flies to be used in that extra fast wasters... and to save face... I started fishing harder waters... the real fast stuff where most never go... I took on extra weight just to hold my ground out there... even added longer spikes in my boots to dig in a bit more.... Its taken on a whole way of life, trying to justify my affections for them bushy little flies.
Sob.... Why do I feel so alone out there? No one follows me out into the river any more...
FliTrap

[Hans Weilenmann]

Gotta say I never understood the oft quoted 1 1/2 turns of hackle. On a sparse hackled pattern that spells off kilter barb distribution to me

[FliTrap]

Thus the beginning of over hackling...the act of rethinking, instead of following direction. Though, I see your reasoning and raise to logic....
FliTrap

[chase creek]

Kirk said - "I still have feather left. I can get another turn out of it."
That's the problem here; I'm THRIFTY (cheap). I feel like I paid for that feather, by golly, I'm gonna get the most out of it!
I know, I know, the tying directions lots of times call for 1 1/2-2 turns. But that just seems a waste to me. After 1 1/2 turns, I've still got most of the feather begging to be made useful, and have a hard time denying it. I try, but the Heavy Hand usually wins in the end.

[CM_Stewart]

I am sure you can have too much hackle. I am not sure you can have too little.

I think I may have posted this photo before (and in the same context), but this fly was still catching fish.

[narcodog]

As I referenced in another thread, Fogg states that he likes a thinly wrapped hackle on his spiders. One to one and a half turns with the hackle standing up not slanted back. the theory he states is that he hackle should represent both wings and legs. To further achieve this he also advocates putting a bump of material behind the hackle to further help it stand up and not fold back around the hook.

For me I like two turns or as others stated what the fly tells me to do. That's on spiders. On flymph's it's usually three to four wraps.

I also have a box full of hackle tips that, for me very hard to discard.

[DUBBN]

I am sure you can have too much hackle. I am not sure you can have too little.

I think I may have posted this photo before (and in the same context), but this fly was still catching fish.

Would you tie a dozen up exactly as the pattern in the picture, and fish them with confidence?

[CM_Stewart]

I doubt I would tie them quite that sparse, but I would certainly fish them with confidence.

[DUBBN]

I doubt I would tie them quite that sparse, but I would certainly fish them with confidence.

That works then