This is my second attempt at a Cockroach, a classic tarpon pattern. Pretty simple to tie. Two grizzly hackles, followed by squirrel tail for the collar. The tough part is getting the feathers to splay properly. My first effort they were crooked. This one is better.
The key is to square the feathers properly before you align them with the shank. It's also important to find matching hackles. As you attach them to to the hook, use soft loops to position and then a re-adjust with each thread wrap. When the feathers are straight and relatively secure, then crank on the thread pressure. So much of fly tying, I've learned, is having the patience to be precise. It's an art to adjust and re-adjust as you go.
Thanks to Enver Hysni at Tampa Bay on the Fly for showing me a few of these concepts earlier this week.
