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Materials
A number of patterns call for peacock quills that have been stripped of the flue (barbules). Given how fragile peacock is, getting the flue off without breaking the
quill can be a challenge. The first thing to do if possible is to pick quills from near the eye of a peacock feather. They are tougher. Many methods have been devised to get the flue off, but the two that seem simplest to me are as follows:
1. Lay the quill on a hard surface and hold it down
by stretching it between your thumb and middle
finger. Remove the flue by rubbing it off with an
ordinary eraser.
2. Scrape the flue off by running it several times
under pressure between your index finger and
your thumbnail. Go carefully with this one
because the quills are very easy to break.
If you tie such patterns often or in quantity you may want to use a mass production system. Immerse a batch of quills (or a whole peacock eye) in Clorox for a minute or two until the flues detach. Then rinse immediately with water and a little baking soda.
Techniques
Not all tyers cement the heads of their flies (I rarely bother except on larger patterns, steelhead flies, etc. On small patterns it makes little difference) but if you do you may occasionally get cement in the eye of the hook. An easy way to get it out is to use a small hackle feather use the junk, not the good stuff) from which you have removed all but about a half inch of the barbules. Just pull it through the hook eye and the excess cement will be gone.
Tools and Equipment
Want a slick tool for making bullet heads at minimal cost? Drill a hole in a poker chip the right size to slip over the hair you have tied in. With the hair tied in and pulled back toward the hook bend, slip the poker chip over it, tie off the head and remove the chip. Its simple. If you tie bullet heads in several sizes, drill several chips with different size holes.
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