Peacock herl head?

Moderators: William Anderson, letumgo

Post Reply
Bazzer69
Posts: 456
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2016 12:49 pm
Location: Redding California

Peacock herl head?

Post by Bazzer69 » Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:47 am

I’m having problems with tying a nice herl head on my flies. Does anyone have any tips to improve my technique. Such as which part of the peacock feather do you use? Which side? And which end? I am continually breaking the herl when I wrap it. I’m using Robert Smith’s book as a guide.
Thanks
Barry
Love both fly fishing and fly tying, been doing it for a while
But not much good at either
User avatar
Theroe
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by Theroe » Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:18 am

Barry- it could be you have fragile herl...try a thicker piece from lower on the sword. Also remember: “your previous step dictates the fit and finish of the succeeding step”. There is a big difference in peacock swords, with regard to how fragile each one is....I have both ends of the spectrum as well!
Good luck
Dana
Soft and wet - the only way....
User avatar
letumgo
Site Admin
Posts: 13345
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:55 pm
Location: Buffalo, New York
Contact:

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by letumgo » Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:07 pm

Barry,

Earlier this week I was watching a tying video on YouTube, where Davie McPhail was demonstrating the herl head on a traditional North Country spider pattern.

Davie's method (going from memory):
- He tyed the body of the fly, then wrapped the hackle collar, leaving a gap at the head of the fly for the herl head.
- The area behind the eye (roughly one eye diameter in length) was wrapped with thread, forming a level base.
- The peacock herl was selected (choose a nice bushy one if possible).
- The fine tip was trimmed off (clip off roughly two inches from the tip end).
- The single strand of herl was tyed in by the tip end, just behind the eye of the hook.
- Davy had a neat trick when tying in the prepared strand of herl. He would tye it in with a single thread wrap, right at the eye of the hook. He then gently pulled on the herl fiber, to even up the end.
- Thread wraps were made from the eye of the hook, back towards the hackle, then forward again. This secured the herl strand in place.
- The thread wraps were then coated with a thin layer of superglue
- The herl was wrapped forward in close touching turns, over the superglue (makes fly durable for fishing).
- After the herl head is formed, the end is captured under the tying thread and a small head is whip finished. The tag end of the herl is pulled, breaking it off cleanly under the tying thread.

Let me see if I can find a video link for you later.

Here you go (link added later): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGtvybXmCos
Here is another variation: https://youtu.be/34yL6Lgrzeo
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php? ... er=letumgo

"The world is perfect. Appreciate the details." - Dean
User avatar
Theroe
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by Theroe » Tue Oct 17, 2017 12:20 pm

If Davey McPhail does it that way it it has to be good! I personally do two things different. Number one: each individual herl that I pull off the sword I hold between two fingers in my right hand and then pull the tip with two fingers on my left hand, breaking it off successfully until I get to the strongest part .....sometimes you have to go through two or three herls to get a good one. Number two: I twist herl around the piece of brown thread sort of making a dubbing brush and then wrap it that way ....it makes it much stronger. I finish the head with a whip and clean break - hope this helps..
Dana
Soft and wet - the only way....
User avatar
William Anderson
Site Admin
Posts: 4569
Joined: Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:14 pm
Location: Ashburn, VA 20148
Contact:

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by William Anderson » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:08 pm

Fantastic thread, fellas. I need to fool with this again. It’s been awhile. Great tips.
"A man should not try to eliminate his complexes, but rather come into accord with them. They are ultimately what directs his conduct in the world." Sigmund Freud.
www.WilliamsFavorite.com
User avatar
tie2fish
Posts: 5072
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:11 am
Location: Harford County, MD

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by tie2fish » Tue Oct 17, 2017 5:46 pm

Historically I have done it like Davy but without the Super Glue. I think I'll add that step in the future.

Image
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
User avatar
Theroe
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sat Feb 25, 2017 11:42 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by Theroe » Tue Oct 17, 2017 6:52 pm

Yet another beauty, well done by Bill!
Soft and wet - the only way....
User avatar
letumgo
Site Admin
Posts: 13345
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2009 7:55 pm
Location: Buffalo, New York
Contact:

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by letumgo » Tue Oct 17, 2017 8:03 pm

Beautiful Bill. That looks like nice bronze heel too. Love that stuff! I have some from our buddy Jeff, but use it sparingly.
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
http://www.flytyingforum.com/index.php? ... er=letumgo

"The world is perfect. Appreciate the details." - Dean
Bazzer69
Posts: 456
Joined: Mon Dec 26, 2016 12:49 pm
Location: Redding California

Re: Peacock herl head?

Post by Bazzer69 » Wed Oct 18, 2017 1:58 am

Thanks for all the tips, now off to the vice to give it a try.
Barry
Love both fly fishing and fly tying, been doing it for a while
But not much good at either
Post Reply