Mallard Flank Frustration!!

[Pepop]

Does everyone have this problem with the medium & smaller Mallard feather's (colored feather's)?

The way they curl makes them difficult to tie in....for me anyway. The Gadwall Flank (front) seems to be flatter though I haven't gotten to any of the smaller feather's.

 

[LedHed]

Pinch the feather between your forefinger and thumb. Place your thumbnail opposite side of the curve. Run your thumbnail down the center while you pull on the stem. Hope it makes sense...

 

[Fatman]

x2 with Led!!!

 

[Pepop]

SO COOL!!! you mean like this...
Back-Before, Front-After


THANKS GUYS!! I LOVE this site!!

 

[Fatman]

Pepop - That's the way to do it!!!! I've been going through and trimming the fuzzy parts off the feathers as much as possible. It does save time when you go to tie.

 

[StumpHunter]

Pepop - That's the way to do it!!!! I've been going through and trimming the fuzzy parts off the feathers as much as possible. It does save time when you go to tie.

I also do them that way, most of the time you have more fuzzy parts than workable feathers. :dodgy:

 

[redman]

I do mine about the same as the rest. I was going to give you a bad time by telling you to use bigger duck feathers. Problem is we have to use what we have. Sometimes we are forced to.use smaller feathers. Am going to get some of those big fat mallard ducks from northern Iowa from some of my Iowa duck hunting buddies if I can.

Redman

 

[quivira kid]

Am going to get some of those big fat mallard ducks from northern Iowa from some of my Iowa duck hunting buddies if I can.

Redman

My hunting buddies poke a little fun at me because I pick over EVERY good duck we shoot. But for some reason they sure don't say much when we are snarfing down the crappie fillets for dinner the same day! I wish I had the time, patience, and space to dye my own... the store bought dyed feathers just aren't the same.

 

[LedHed]

good to have friends that hunt

 

[Fatman]

Zac - Like you I have alot of natural ones but real nervous about messing them up by trying to dye them.

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

If you have the patience to tie the jigs and flies that are shown here than dyeing would be a breeze. I don't think it's possible to mess up a duck feather by dyeing it unless you set it on fire somehow. If you have dyed easter eggs with the kiddies than you can dye feathers. You can even use the egg dyes, they work. Been tying with duck feathers for quite awhile now and never messed with the curl, looks like it works though.

 

[redman]

JJ you are right there. Just getting to old? to do it or may be the desire is gone.Lols. I have friends that help me out in that department. Guess it the clean up that turns me off to do any dying of the Duck feathers. Just make sure that you have a bottle of cider vinegar around as the last step.

Redman