For the last couple years now the Clinch or Improved Clinch knot's have been replaced with the Davy Knot on smaller flies. Because I fish a fair number of smaller flies I wanted a knot that had a few less turns and was smaller when completed. The Davy Knot gave me that but in all honesty I have had ...

Yes Kelly that's the hackle position I go for. That's just a personal preference though as I'm sure the swept back style has its place as well.

Regards, Jerry

Nicely done Kelly. I usually strive for the open umbrella look to my hackle on spiders. Tied sparse and once fished they will have the swept back look soon enough.

Regards, Jerry

Ya know I find myself agreeing with Bob's comments so often it's almost disturbing. Now if I could just get myself convinced that fishing a wet fly upstream is more productive than down stream.

Regards, Jerry

Kelly I think Bob is right on with the hackle length. There are also tutorials out there using longer hackle barbs. Most just pull the amount of barbs desired from the feather and tie them in to a bit longer than desired length with the tips pointed over the eye of the hook. Tie down and clip the bu...

Ariel, A few months ago I attended a fly fishing related show and while there I had the pleasure of watching a fellow tie a few of the classic soft hackles. Silk thread the correct hackle for the fly and really some very nicely tied flies. Questioning the tier his technique when he uses these soft h...

Hans, thanks much for the timely reply to my questions. Hopefully a few other's may have benefitted as well.

Regards, Jerry

Hans perhaps I have missed conversation here regarding your not adding head cement of some sort to your finished flies. Have you found that just the three turn whip finish is adequate for your flies that are to be fished? Just one more question if you don't mind. It would seem you are having much be...

I agree Ray, what's wrong with the Tups?

Regards, Jerry

Niklas, My go-to fly is the Baillie's (Stewart's) Black Spider. A great fishing fly. Ron with this being a go to fly I assume you are using it as simply a searching type fly? I have used it sparingly and with some success. All of them have been in the smaller sizes with #18 being the middle of the ...