Herl Hackle (concept fly)
Hook - Daiichi Model 1150 / Size 10
Thread - Benecchi 14/0 (Black)
Rib - Stretchy Beading Cord (Black)
Abdomen - Medium Mylar Tinsel (Silver)
Hackle - Peacock Herl (tips tyed out over the eye)
Thorax - Peacock Herl (reinforced in thread dubbing loop - ala Mitch's Bobbin method)
Head - Tying thread
I was playing around at the vice again this morning and it occurred to me that the thin ends of the peacock herl would make an interesting hackle. I pulled ten peacock herl fibers out of the pack and roughly "evened" the tips by braking them off with thumb nail. Grasp the ends of the peacock herl in one hand, and then pinch the ends in your other hand, pressing your thumb nail into the ends. Give a quick pull, breaking off the ends of the herl. This method creates a more natural looking end, than you would get by simply cutting them with your scissors. Each end has a cool little "V-shaped" notch at the end.
The peacock herl fibers are tyed in, facing out over the eye of the hook (butt ends are hanging out over the bend of the hook). Make two loose wraps and then distribute the herl fibers around the hook shank, but pressing you thumb nail into the bundle. The length of the hackle can be adjusted at this point, by pulling on the butt ends. Wrap your tying thread securely towards the bend of the hook, stopping where you want the thorax to begin. Form a thread dubbing loop and then draw the butt ends of the peacock herl parallel with the thread loop. Twist the herl and thread together forming a thread-reinforced herl chenille. Wrap the herl chenille forward, forming the thorax. Secure it in place with a couple tight wraps of thread and trim off the excess.
The "herl hackle" is then formed by pressing the tips back towards the bend of the hook and forming a small thread damn (head) in front of the herl. This will hold the tips in place.
The tips of the peacock herl are very flexible, so they move very easily. This should make them a nice hackle material. I do not anticipate any more problems from breakage than you would have from standard hackle fibers.