Hackle Stacker

[Fred]

Do any of you tie Hackle Stackers? If so, what patterns and when do you fish them?

Are these tied using the paraloop technique?

[raposaNegra]

a quill body BWO hackle stacker. Fishes well on the green....

[jim m.]

Fred,

I love hackle stackers. I tie them mostly for my baetis patterns but plan on using them for PMDs and drakes this year. They're easy and fast if you have a gallows tool. Last year there was great article in Fly Tyer on using para-loops in a lot of patterns. Might be worth looking for.

[Fred]

Jim,

Thanks. I have that issue. I forgot about that article. I'll have to look at it again.

I guess there isn't just one "hackle stacker" fly, but the term refers to the tying technique. Kind of like a "parachute" fly.

[jim m.]

I guess there isn't just one "hackle stacker" fly, but the term refers to the tying technique. Kind of like a "parachute" fly.

That's the way I understand it. Fly Tyer calls it "para-loop." That article has good ideas in there on using cdc in your hackle stackers as well. The biggest trouble I had was getting a thread I liked to wrap the hackle around. I settled on 7X tippet material. Coats and Clark thread that you use for yong-style flies is good too but once you get below sz.18 it’s too bulky.

When you have the loop wrapped w/ hackle and the hackle tied off, be sure to open the loop with your fingers and compact the hackle well. That's key.

I like them just as much, if not more than parachutes especially if you’re tying an emerger pattern on a bent hook like a TMC 2487. Have fun.

[nightfish]

As far as I've been able to research, the originator is Bob Quigley. There are several names for the style...paraloop and pullover are but two. There are also several methods of creating the stack. I use 5x to 7x mono, but heavy thread and flex floss are also used. It can also be done by hand, but a parachute tool (gallows) is extremely helpful.

Stackers can be done on any size hook, and in any species pattern, including duns, emergers, cripples, and you can, with a dubbing loop, make stackers with CDC fibers. You can use either a traditional tail or a shuck style, you can tie on straight shanks or curved, and I've even found a way to add wings to the stack.

The three structural items that facilitate a good stacker are...
1. Creating a balled thorax that will help splay the hackle
2. When using hackle, go up one size from the hook
3. Wrapping the hackle in tight wraps on the base or post material.

Here's a good tutorial for the Hackle Stacker...

http://www.troutflies.com/tutorials/stacker/index.shtml

I'd be happy to answer any other questions on specific stages of the tying, but it may be a day before I can get back to you.

[nightfish]

oops... try this one...
http://www.troutflies.com/tutorials/stacker/index.shtml


edit...corrected the link in the first post.

[raposaNegra]

I used to use mono for the stacker loop, but it seemed a lot harder to secure it (not have it work itself loose) thatn thread and so now I just use a tripled up dubbing loop.

[nightfish]

Raposa,
If you're using that method, you might like using stretch-flex.

[Larry S.]

It is located under "Attractors" in the Fly Tying section. Maybe it could be called the "Mother of all Hackle Stackers".

What nightfish says about using Super Floss is right on. It has got to be the easiest way of tying these flies.

Also, if you do not have a gallows tool but have one of the lights that have the flexible stem attached to your vise you can do what Cliff Sullivan does and use it. He merrily attaches the flex floss to the hook and loops it over the light and secures with a clip. Then adjusts the tension by moving the light up and down.

Go watch him at the Expo in IF. He ties several of the Ned Long patterns.

[Junge]

Fred,

Drop me an email. Junge@lineages.com

[Brown Bonkers]

Fred: Look at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/
Then click Previous Flies then select BWO Paintbrush Hackle Stacker.
Excellent pictorial presentation of how to tie.

[Fred]

Fred: Look at http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/
Then click Previous Flies then select BWO Paintbrush Hackle Stacker.
Excellent pictorial presentation of how to tie.

Thanks. I like the paintbrush Idea. I'll have to look into that.

good stuff.