Float n fly tutorial using duck feathers

This is a brief tutorial on how I tie my float n fly jigs using mallard flank feathers with a few pictures. I start by tying in some Krinkle Mirror Flash, then turn jig so hook is pointed up. Tie in first feather at the top side, then turn so hook point is down and add second feather for the belly portion. I like a little contrast color and with these I used some rabbit hair also tied in on the belly side. I learned to finish my jigs with a half hitch and do about four of those to finish my jigs although a whip finish is fine. Probably have made over a million half hitches in my tying career and don't plan on changing because it works for me. Jigs are 1/24-1/32 pillheads on #4 hooks.Attachment 393251Attachment 393252Attachment 393253Attachment 393254Attachment 393255Attachment 393256

Very nice of you and am sure these guys will appreciate this!

Not sure how you keep the flank feathers so straight.

Skip

Really awesome

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Nice, thanks for sharing.

Nothing like an artist in action. Great job and thanks for sharing and I too use half hitches as that's how I learned.

Great pictures and instruction. Thank you!

Very nice and thanks for sharing. I too have trouble with them not being so straight. Good job.

When I trim my feathers and cut out the fluffy, fuzzy portion it removes a large portion of the curl. When I tie them in I use the straighter 2/3 of the feather and tie it down there and trim the excess. I hope that helps.

I have tied a bunch of flank feather jigs and always wondered why mine looked generic in comparison to others, yours especially. These pics answered a lot of my questions. Thanks mister, really appreciate it. Now to get some of the flash like you and Skip use. Christmas tinsel just don’t git it.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

I have tied a bunch of flank feather jigs and always wondered why mine looked generic in comparison to others, yours especially. These pics answered a lot of my questions. Thanks mister, really appreciate it. Now to get some of the flash like you and Skip use. Christmas tinsel just don’t git it.

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Yeah Skeet that Christmas tinsel looks good, but I don't like it at all for my jigs. I like Flashabou most, but I also like Krystal Flash, however after that they have this Midge Flash that is like Krystal Flash except it's much more fine and it has caught my eye as has some of the Flashabou Accent! Talk a look at all of them, maybe get a pack of each to see what you like more?

Skip

The flash I use now is made by Cascade and it's called Krinkle Mirror Flash. I is nice and thin but straight. It's easy to tie in and the entire length resembles fish scales to me. I have been getting mine from Feathercraft since it's 15 minutes from me. I have plenty of flash but this has been my favorite for the last three years since I started using it. In February/2018 I was using a 3/32 black craft hair jig with two strands of this flash on both sides of the jig and caught my PB Largemouth that weighed 9.5 lbs on 4lb test line. Hardly ever tie a jig without it now. Thinking about selling all my other flash now since I hardly use it anymore.

I’ve been using the same flash for years. I’ve got it in about every possible color but mostly use chartreuse and silver, just a couple of strands. It’s worked pretty good so far. I tied one with about 20 or more strands figuring if two was good, 20 was better. Never got touched. Have to try something new. Thanks guys.

NICE stuff. I wish I could tie my shoes.

Oh yeah