Dry Fly Torque

[michaeledward]

I've been tying for three years now. Last year, and this year, I have run into a horrible problem that I did not have with my first year.

My 'Go-To' fly is a Blue Dun Dry fly. I usually tie it on a 14 or 12. Sometimes smaller. When I was fishing this fly this week, by about the 6th cast, I see the fly spinning as it falls to the water. If I don't catch it, I get these nasty twists in my tippet.

I'm trying to figure out what causes this torque.

At first, I thought perhaps the wings weren't balanced enough, or were angled in funny directions. When this fly gets hit, however, the wings can get pretty mangled.

My second thought, is that my hackle is too light. The hackle, sometimes is pretty sparse. But, on my most recent batch, I used two hackle feathers on each fly; wrapping three, four, or five times behind the wing, and two to three times in front of the wing. Still, it twisted.

My last thought, and I think closest to the correct thought, is that the hackle feathers are too big. On some of my flies, this trip, I clipped the hackles very short (shorter than the hook gap), and the spinning seemed to stop.

I know it is difficult to suggest a course of action, without seeing the results of my tying attempt. Kudos to anyone who can offer a suggestion or two for me to try.

Thanks,

Mike

[petegas]

one thought could be that you're hackle is not shaped properly.

if it is cone shaped, ie larger toward back and shorter in front, many tiers (such as AK Best) have posited that this could be the cause of flies twisting.

[michaeledward]

one thought could be that you're hackle is not shapped properly.

if it is cone shapped, ie larger toward back and shorter in front, many tiers (such as AK Best) have posited that this could be the cause of flies twisting.

Thank you.

The dry hackle I have seems pretty even to me. But, I do tie in starting from the base and working toward the tip. So, there could be longer lengths in back.

Maybe, I will try a half dozen or so starting from the hackle tip.

[fessiewig]

My fist instinct is the tippet is too light for the amount of hackle on the fly.

[GOLDNDEMON]

I agree with fessie about the tippet, you do need proper balance between tippet and the size of the fly. Not the hook size mind you but the size of the material on the hook. I also have found that oversized hackle and bushy flies such as hairwing dries can put a twist in your tippet if it is too light for the fly. Try to make it a habit to check your tippet after a few casts.

[overmywaders]

Fanwings can really twist tippets, as can variants, spiders, and large parachutes. Proper tippet size helps, but using a stiffer tippet material can also end the twisting. For example, I like Orvis SS for tippets, but it is very limp and twists easily - a switch to Maxima in the same diameter can fix it.

[Flyfish99]

I agree with Fessie and Golden. I think your tippett is too light. One other possible cause would be that he wings are too long.

[michaeledward]

Some of what I saw these past few days was on a 6x ... (It was the only leader I had in my vest - I was trying to wear it down to put on some 5x tippet) ... But I also think I have these flies twisting up my 4x and 5x.

Certainly, if the fly has been in the mouth of a few trout, the way I tie them, they seem to become more sparse ... and they twist, it seems, less.

I have a habit of making wings too long. Usually, those extra long winged flies don't get out of the fly box, or they get their wings chopped down to size.

You guys have put out some good ideas. I think I'll go tie a few flies, and keep them separate from my current ones .... and test the results.

Gracias.