| March 2011. The method for tying this particular style of fly was created by Hans Weilenmann but the link to his page seems to have disappeared. I have decided to re-issue my own page because I consider the "reverse hackling" method of tying drys and wets to be the best, and easiest, way of tying in a hackle. Step 1. Tie in the hackle as shown. Step 2. Tie in the wing. Step 3. Run the thread to the back and tie in the tail. Step 4. Dub the body to a point just a few winds behind the wing. Step 5. Wind the hackle back to the thread and tie in. Remove excess hackle. Step 6. Run the thread through the hackle to the eye of the hook using a wiggling, sideways motion so that you do not tie down the barbules. Step 7. Tie off. The advantage of this method is twofold. First of all, the hackle is securely tied in with almost no chance of it coming unwound. And secondly, the problem of fighting the barbules at the eye in order to tie off is pretty much eliminated. Try it and you'll see what I mean. I've noticed that the term "reverse hackle" is also used for the Tenkara method of tying flies. I have watched my wife hook several nice brookies using a fly tied in the Tenkara style so it may well be worth the effort of tying up a couple.  |
 Step 1.  Step 2.  Step 3.  Step 4.  Step 5.  Step 6. |