Published Oct 8. 2013 - 10 years ago
Updated or edited Nov 19. 2015

Rubber band tool

A super simple and inexpensive home made tool to hold hackle and other materials while tying.

Step 12 - first bunch of deer hair - Clip a small bunch of deer hair and position it just in front of the tag
A commercial tool
Martin Joergensen

UK fly tyer Alan Bithell saw our article on the Green Machine and noticed the small tool that the tyer Ken Bonde Larsen used to hold the hackle, a so called hackle guard.

Alan dropped me a mail:
As I tie this fly from time to time I have a "tool" that does the same job, however I bet it only costs a fraction of what that one does. I'll attach a couple of photos of it and how I use it. It occurred to me that it might make a short "Fly Tying Tip" article for you if you would like to put it up on your site.
Alan

The tool is made from very simple materials: a rubber band and a small piece of tube or a thin straw. A piece of fly-tying tube can do the job. Apart from that a small piece of monofilament will make the preparation of the tool easier.

Making the rubber band tool

The materials

Ready to pull

The finished tool

Over the bobbin

Tighten

Pull back

Tie the body

Loosen tool

Remove

Comments

Great Idea!...

Great Idea!

Martin Joergensen's picture

Norm, Google the ...

Norm,

Google the word hackle guard and there should be plenty.

Martin

so where can i locat...

so where can i locate/get one of the commercial tools?

.

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