When hackle fiber tails don't remain up-right when the fly is fished, the fly no longer resembles the insect which it is imitating. Here's two tying tricks that will keep your hackle fiber tail from bending down around the hook.
First: As you lay down a thread base on your hook build up a small hump of thread right on the spot at which you'll tie in the hackle fibers. Then, tie in the fibers right in front of that hump. The fibers will rest on the hump and will stand up nicely.
Second: After you've tied on the hackle fibers for the tail, make three or
four wraps of thread under the fibers before continuing to add other materials
or continuing down the hook shank with the thread. Thread wrapped under the
fibers will make them stand up. If they stand up too much, reduce the number
of wraps under the fibers.
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