The Captain
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All materials collected and sorted. Materials for the near wing side of fly as it is shown to the right and far wing to the left. Please note I am left-handed, this is why the fly points to the left. Each side divided in short (three strips on top) and long fibred materials (six strips in bottom). For this fly I have taken strips with five strands of each material. Practice will teach you the needed amount.
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Start with the short materials from left side. Take one of the strips; here teal, and start build three bundles. As you make three bundles and have five strands, there will only be one strand in the last bundle, but don’t worry about this. Note that the points are aligned and laid close together.
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Continue with the next material. Start where you ended with the first material (bundle 3).
Still, take care that the points are aligned.
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Continue with the last material in the same way. Now you have the three bundles with almost same amount of material in no particular order.
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Pick up one of the bundles with a tweezers near the points of the strands as shown. Using a soft pad (like leather) can be helpful here.
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Take the strands from the tweezers with you fingers, grab them near the points and stroke them gently together. Order is of no importance and they just have to stick together, not being fully married. When this is done, lay the bundle back on the table. Always keep the strands curving downward.
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Repeat with the two other bundles.
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Pick up two of the bundles; lay them between you fingers, the upper extending beyond the lower and stroke them gently together.
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Repeat with the last bundle.
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Following instructions so far, should give you one finished outer wing.
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In same way build an inner wing with the long fibred materials for the left wing.
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Again, pick up one bundle and stroke the strands together. Repeat with rest of the bundles.
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Stroke the three bundles together, one at a time, as for pic.8 and 9. Now you should have an inner and an outer wing for left side of the fly (seen towards the head of the fly).
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Repeat all of the above for the other side of the wing.
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As everything are tied in together, lay the outer wing on the inner. It is good practice to measure the wing against the fly for positioning the outer wing, to make sure you got as much of the outer wing as possible shown in the final fly.
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Pick up both sides of the wing.
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Place the whole wing on top of the fly.
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Tie the wing on, no glue and no tools, just tie it down. Hint: When I have tied it in an secured the wing with three-four turns of thread, but before I let go on the grip of the wing, I twist the root ends of the wing towards the way I turn to set the wing right.
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Wing tied on.
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The finished fly with roof of mallard, topping etc.
mvh
Martin
