The first part of the process for using the JC eye feathers in a fly is to select a matched pair from the same part of the cape, and depending on what you are tying, you may want to select a small, medium or large pair. The larger JC eye feathers tend to be more likely to have splits.
The method of repair I have used, and I’m sure that there are others who will have done this differently, is to place a small dot of tying varnish on the pulp of my Left index finger
and then transfer or spread that dab of varnish onto the Left thumb pulp also by simply pinching the thumb and index finger together gently. You then have still wet or tacky varnish on two surfaces. I would add that using the more sticky or tacky varnish which is found in the varnish bottle after it has been two thirds used works better for me.
Now take the JC eye feather to be repaired, and whilst holding the stem of the feather in you Right hand, gently grip the base of the eye part of the feather (and the eye may have more than one ‘section’) between the wet or tacky varnish of the Left index and thumb, and then gently draw the feather through the lightly gripped index & thumb varnish, and the varnish will be applied to both surfaces of the feather, and at the same time, the splits will come together with the light gripping and pull-through action.
You may end up with the feathers looking like this; with a partial improvement in the splits…..and if you’re unhappy, and whilst the varnish applied to the feather is still wet or tacky, you can repeat the process for that feather.
Or you may be fortunate to get the pair of feathers in such good order that it is difficult to tell that it had previously been split at all.Allow the eye feathers to dry, and then prepare them for applying to the fly in the usual way. Even with a good result, as in the last picture, another coating of the varnish wouldn’t go amiss.
And there you have it, repaired JC eye feathers, and putting a whole new perspective on the concept of usable feathers from your JC cape. Any other methods of achieving this effect & repair of the JC eye feathers would be appreciated.
Mike
