On Salmon Flies the intimate association of the ribbing and the body hackle necessitates the precise tie in of the hackle so the rib will pick it up and at the same time be placed to maintain the symmetry and proportions of the fly.

In most cases the approximation of the second turn of ribbing tinsel is eyeballed and the hackle attached. The technique I use was fallen upon while dressing Crossfield's Black Silk, a pattern with a silk body, a rib and a body hackle.

Instead of attaching a single strand of silk at the front of the body and wrapping to the bend and back, I attach two strands of silk at the rear of the fly. With the bobbin at the front of the body make a trial run with the body rib. Once the rib is suitably set on, un wrap it back to the second turn to the precise spot where the body hackle will be tied in. Now either wrap on, and I prefer, Unwrap the tying thread back to this point. Unwrap the ribbing tinsel completely and catch it in the material clip. Tie in the body hackle at the designated point and wrap the thread to the front of the body. Wind one strand of silk forward, tie off and trim. Wind the second strand of silk forward to complete the body. Wind the rib forward, it will exactly meet the hackle while maintaining the ribbing proportions. Wrap the folded hackle immediately behind the rib.

This is a quick and easy method to deal with the body hackle tie in. It also has the advantage of wrapping a virgin i.e.., not handled strand of silk on the outer layer of the body. This method can also be used with a dubbed body by leaving a separate dubbing thread or loop at the rear of the body.