Abbey--a classic wet

[Chuck Morris]

Abbey-A Classic Wet Fly
Thread: Tie body etc. with white. Finish Head with Black
Tag: Flat Gold Tinsel
Tail: Golden Pheasant Tippet
Body: Dark Red Floss
Rib: Gold Tinsel
Hackle: Light Brown tied Beard style
Wing: Grey Mallard
Photo Credit: www.rareandunusual.com
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/sirrom/abbey.jpg

[Gatorbyte]

I just love these classic wet flies, but have never tried them. How do you tie the wings on them. Is that just one feather? I ask, because I don't see a stem.

[conner j]

I tried to ty an Abbey and it looks pitiful by comparison. It's hard for me to get the mallard wing to behave and I never got that nice tapered look like in the picture above.

[Chuck Morris]

GB
The wings are matched (left and right) slips of feathers, taken from mallard flank feathers that have been matched. Sometimes you can find feathers that are symetrical and then you can take a slip from each side of the feather and match them up. There is another way to get this effect and that is to take a single feather slip and after evening the ends, you can then fold it in half and get your "set" of wings.
The tying in of the wings takes some practice to get it correct. My suggestion is to practice, practice and then practice some more. Have fun!!
Chuck

[Chuck Morris]

Conner,
Got to thinking,(I know, it's a bad thing for me to do!), but without seeing your fly, I might be able to guess what your problem is, regarding the wing.
You are probably tying back over your initial wing tie in wrap. Never do this, as wraps behind the first tie in wrap will cause the wing to collapse, wrinkle, and twist, and generally make a mess.
It's a common mistake and easily remedied by not wrapping back over the initial tie in.
Hope this helps.
Chuck