1st attempt at flatwing

[jo53mo]

Sorry about the picture i think this one will fit better

[rel]

Looking good. Are you sure this is your first attempt at a flatwing? Sparsity will come with practice. Ron

[jo53mo]

Ron
Yes it is, i find it easier to tie than a deceiver. The hackle on a Deceiver gives me trouble.

Joe

[boarmountain]

Very nice! I think it could be sparcer too.Wait till you try a 12 feather flatwing.....you may decide deceivers aren't so bad,LOL!

[boba]

Controlling hackle on a deceiver depends on the type and quality of hackle you are using, and the technique you use for tying them in.
The easiest way, assuming you are using the right hackle, webby and wide, not the narrower type used for flatwings, is to match them from opposite sides of the neck (the high-up feathers, not the narrow ones) or saddle (again, you want the wider, webby ones). You can either leave some of the fluff (further to the thicker part of the quill) which is preferred by many tyers or strip the fluff off. On a deceiver, the fluff on the shaft, helps spread the bucktail collar a bit, giving a wider profile and one that pulses a bit more. Rich Southgate and Jack Gartside of United Fly Tyers recommended this to me, and subsequent experience has taught me they were right.
Either way, match up the pairs of feathers, so the right and left sets are cupped toward each other and then tie them in ON TOP of the hook as a group (that's what makes it easy). I prefer to group them in sets of 2 or 3 on each side. You can glue them together at the butts with Flexament or other similar cement before or after you tie them in. I prefer after. This is simply a take-off on the way Carrie Stevens tied the first Gray Ghost. According to fly historians, Carrie glued hers first before tying them on. If you need more help, send me an email, and I will add more details.
By the way, use that fly, if you haven't already. It will catch fish.

[jo53mo]

Thanks for your advice Boba. I have to agree that i think a big part of it is the quality of the hackle. I was using the packaged saltwater hackle in the bag that was all curved to one side, and they were never straight always curved. Yesterday i picked up a Ewing hackle neck from Orvis that has hackle up to 6 inches long and kinda wide paid $15. If you could recommend any other hackle let me know.

Thanks Joe