The next decision you must make is what type of fletch to use. The first choice is whether to use feathers or plastic vanes. Other things to consider are type of cut (parabolic or shield), colour and length. The choice is yours and you will have to decide what suits you best. What is important is good arrow flight so your decisions will be dictated by this.
Personally I will only use feathers on my arrows as plastic has no appeal to me. If you are shooting off the shelf then you will have to use feathers as vanes will not collapse as they pass over the arrow shelf and will make the arrow kick sideways. Feathers are also more forgiving and will straighten the arrow faster than plastic vanes. I would recommend a minimum of three 4" feathers on lighter bows shooting 5/16" shafts and three 5" feathers for shafts bigger than this.
I am a bowhunter and good penetration is of great importance to me. I want my arrows to straighten up as soon as possible after release. To help ensure this happens I use three rather high profile 5" feathers. Incidentally I use shield cut feathers for no other reason than I like the look of them. Some say they are noisier in flight but I haven't found this to be a problem.
When fletching, ensure that the entire length of the feather is in contact with the shaft. Check this before you apply any glue. When applying the glue to the feather use a thin even bead. Use an excessive amount and it squeezes out from under the feather and looks terrible. Too much glue can also cause your clamp to stick to the feather or even the shaft.
After all the fletches have been glued in place I put a small dab of glue at the front of each. This will stop them snagging on grass and the like when you miss. If you shoot off your hand it helps prevent the front of the feather burying into your finger - OUCH!!!
One last thing about fletching; always make sure that your glue is compatible with the finish on your shaft. Some glue's may seem fine at first but as soon as it rains, or the feathers get bumped you end up having arrows without feathers. I had a mate on one hunting trip that had all his feathers fall off while out on a mornings hunt. It was a mad rush back in camp at lunch time (between much laughter) trying to get his arrows fletched again. I won't mention his name for fear of embarrassing him, hey "Swamp"?
