The Tippet Feather

"The Tippet Feather"

Intro: This page describes how to prepare and tie in a tippet feather on an Ally's shrimp or General Practitioner (GP). It also shows that you can use one feather for two flies.
As an aid to visability clicking on any of the pictures will open up a larger image.

Step by step photographic lessons of Salmon Flies are in my eBook

We can use up the larger tippet feathers from a tippet collar if we prepare and tie in the feather as follows. The trimmed piece of feather left over from the first fly can be used for trout fly tails or simply used in another shrimp fly, shown later.
Click for full size

Select one of the larger feathers from your tippet collar which matches the size of hook being used, the hook shown with the selected feather is a normal size 6 salmon fly treble. When using a small hook such as a size 10 or 12 a smaller feather would be more suitable. Click for full size

Remove the poor quality fibres from the base of the stalk then choose a point on the stalk that will equally split the black barred fibres in two. Draw back the lower half of the fibres keeping them clear of the tying processes that follow.
Click for full size

Tie in at the point on the stalk which divides the fibres, using about four or five turns of thread. Too many turns of thread at this stage will not allow you to pull the feather through for alignment.
Note: how the feather tips extend well past the bend of the hook.

Click for full size

Place your left index finger lightly on top of the turns of thread then gently pull the stem rearward until the black tips line up with the bend. At the same time try to keep the feather evenly spread across the top off the hook. Click for full size

Carefully trim off at the point on the stalk which earlier divided the fibres. Tie down the loose ends tightly and your fly is now ready for the wing or hackle. The remaining piece of Tippet feather is used in the next 3 pictures on another shrimp fly.
Click for full size

With the remaining piece of feather draw the fibres forward and re-align them with the stalk. Catch in, with a few turns of thread, just beyond the fibres at the thick end of the stalk. Note that with care and practice the feather will still be neat and tidy even after previous handling on the other fly.
Click for full size

Again place your left index finger lightly on top of the turns of thread gently pulling the stem rearward until the tips line up with the bend. This time a little more care is required to evenly spread the fibres across the top off the hook.
Click for full size

Trim off at the eye and your second fly is now ready for finishing. Sometimes with very large feathers three flies can be tied showing very little difference on the finished product.
Click for full size

Step by step photographic lessons of Salmon Flies are in my eBook

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We can use up the larger tippet feathers from a tippet collar if we prepare and tie in the feather as follows. The trimmed piece of feather left over from the first fly can be used for trout fly tails or simply used in another shrimp fly, shown later.	Click for full size
Select one of the larger feathers from your tippet collar which matches the size of hook being used, the hook shown with the selected feather is a normal size 6 salmon fly treble. When using a small hook such as a size 10 or 12 a smaller feather would be more suitable.	Click for full size
Remove the poor quality fibres from the base of the stalk then choose a point on the stalk that will equally split the black barred fibres in two. Draw back the lower half of the fibres keeping them clear of the tying processes that follow.	Click for full size
Tie in at the point on the stalk which divides the fibres, using about four or five turns of thread. Too many turns of thread at this stage will not allow you to pull the feather through for alignment. Note: how the feather tips extend well past the bend of the hook.	Click for full size
Place your left index finger lightly on top of the turns of thread then gently pull the stem rearward until the black tips line up with the bend. At the same time try to keep the feather evenly spread across the top off the hook.	Click for full size
Carefully trim off at the point on the stalk which earlier divided the fibres. Tie down the loose ends tightly and your fly is now ready for the wing or hackle. The remaining piece of Tippet feather is used in the next 3 pictures on another shrimp fly.	Click for full size
With the remaining piece of feather draw the fibres forward and re-align them with the stalk. Catch in, with a few turns of thread, just beyond the fibres at the thick end of the stalk. Note that with care and practice the feather will still be neat and tidy even after previous handling on the other fly.	Click for full size
Again place your left index finger lightly on top of the turns of thread gently pulling the stem rearward until the tips line up with the bend. This time a little more care is required to evenly spread the fibres across the top off the hook.	Click for full size
Trim off at the eye and your second fly is now ready for finishing. Sometimes with very large feathers three flies can be tied showing very little difference on the finished product.	Click for full size