Dressed to Impress

[bmadd]

I bought some hackle to try and dress my own treble hooks for a few lures. I have found some good information on the net on the process but I have a few other questions that I can't seem to find answers for.

First: Should I use only the tips of the hackle or can I keep re-using on individual feather?

Second: How long do you extend the hackle from the bottom of the trebles? Most fly sites stated 2-3" but all my bass lures seem to only use .5-1" below the treble.

Thanks,

Braden

[Gatorbassman]

Yes, Only use the tips. Also use the natural bend in the feathers to your advantage and make sure they turn out from the trebble. I wouldn't make them any longer than 1 1/4 inches for back trebbles. You are trying to reproduce a fishes tail and how many fish have you seen with tails that are almost as long as their body.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Sometimes, I like to tie the tail a little longer using red bucktail fibers in the middle. I actually like that it extends the body on some of my jerkbaits.

I used to tie flies, but got out of it because its easier to tie dressed trebles.  There is a big difference in a No. 2 Treble hook and a size 26 trico fly  LOL

[Gatorbassman]

Quote

There is a big difference in a No. 2 Treble hook and a size 26 trico fly LOL

Very true. I started tying flies with my dad when I was 6 year old. I've been doing it ever since. Tying with a magnifying glass is no fun.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

Also, If you strip one side of the feather off, you can use a little more length of the feather than if you don't.  The inside hackle gets buried anyway, one side stands up.  By removing one side, it reduces the bulk on the hook shank.

As for size, how about a 1/64 adams?  I once caught an old guy in the nostril with one of these on my backcast.  I never saw someone wince so much from something so tiny.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Well, typically, you can fit three tricos on a dime. They are that small.

Those things are so small, reading your leader length becomes paramount to hooking fish.  Basically, if you see a trout rise in the general area of your fly, you better raise your rod tip to see if he took it.