Hair Dryer

[DUBBN]

Guess I am going to need one to use large Partridge feathers!

[wsbailey]

Another method.

[redietz]

I've got admit, I've never seen the hair dryer trick before. I usually just use my half hitch tool.

[Johnno]

Big problem with the hair dryer is that cloud of all those loose feathers and bits of fur that was littering the desk that’ll inevitably appear no matter where you point the thing..
Murphy’s Law applies:
The more careful you are, the more likely it’ll happen.....

[redietz]

That had occurred to me, but it sounds like you're speaking from experience.

[DUBBN]

Once the fly is wet, I doubt the fish care how pretty the hackle is, or how it was tied in. That being said, with the ability of anyone being able to take decent photos and videos of their creation's, appearance is paramount when showing them to other fly tier's.

Old Davies method sure made the hackle look good compared to the Tightline video. Davie has a knack for doing that with anything he ties.

[Updtate]

The hair dryer trick also works will on refurbishing older ties! I watched as Darbee flies were returned to as new condition after being held in steam from a kettle and then a blow drier.

Tom

[wsbailey]

I completely agree with Johnno’s point about Murphy’s Law. I do find a hair dryer useful when I need to dry loose dubbing or feathers; I’ll put them into a paint strainer bag and rubber band it to the hair dryer. The turbo action rapidly dries the contents.

[letumgo]

I’ll put them into a paint strainer bag and rubber band it to the hair dryer. The turbo action rapidly dries the contents.

Thanks for that comment. Clever solution, and one my wife will appreciate (you should have seen the mess I created the last time I dried fur and feathers in our bathroom).

[ronr]

I can vouch for davy'smethod, with the half hitch tool vs. the hair dryer... tied some partridge and orange on a Fulling Mill 35025 size 16.. which is a pretty small 3x short shank hook. Fished one yesterday on the Metolius, only fish caught all afternoon were when swinging that fly to fish that had made the mistake of showing themselves by rising to BWO's. Wouldn't ordinarily swing soft hackles this time of year, but had Euro nymphed that morning with little success. But, when that hatch occurred my fishing companion (a certified casting instructor) and able angler couldn't connect with dries: I decided what the heck.. put on the soft hackle and proceeded to gain a little scoreboard.
I will try Davy's method too, but why argue with success.

Sorry about photo quality... old iPhone.