Flatwing Fly Tying Instructions

Flat wing-style streamers differ from the more familiar hackle wing streamers in two ways. First, the wing feather rests flat over the hook shank rather than upright along the shank. Second, flat wings originated in the northeastern states and, because of their smaller size, they are better suited for casting than the longer trolling styles. For this reason, they are often used for brook trout fishing in streams and rivers.

  1. Selecting Wing Feathers

    • Generally, duck flank feathers are used. This limits the size fly that can be tied because flank feathers are shorter than rooster hackle feathers. As a result, the size of flat wing flies is limited by the length of available feathers. However, because of their smaller size, flat wing flies are easier to cast. Among the species' flank feathers that are used include mallard, wood duck and teal. Some flat wing patterns call for blue dun, white or gray rooster hackle feathers. These hackle feathers are tied in flat over the hook shank in the same way as the duck flank feathers.

    Preparing the Feathers

    • Before the flat wing feather can be tied in, it must be sized properly. The wing is either the same length as the body or extends to the end of the tail if a tail is called for. When the fly is ready to receive the wing, hold the whole feather over the hook and measure it for the necessary length. Next, hold the feather by the tip and strip off the unnecessary fibers from the butt section. Trim the exposed stem, leaving a small section of stripped stem for wrapping the thread.

    Tying the Wing

    • After preparing the feather, position it over the body of the fly. The thread base that will receive the wing should be flat and not beveled. A flat thread base will allow the wing to lay flat over the body. The wing is tied in at that point where the fibers have been stripped away from the stem. One exception to this method is where the patterns calls for the wing to fold down and enclose the body. In this case, the tie-in point of the feather includes some wing feather fibers above the stripped stem.