Hackle is a probably the most understood material in fly tying. A person could go nuts trying to figure it out. Dry fly hackle, wet fly hackle capes, necks streamer and spey hackle it's enough to turn anybody away from tying and go to buying flies. I am not going to try and explain all of the various hackle out there but i will focus on two that I use on most of the flies I tie and use.
Dry fly hackle can range from super stiff to almost limp. The stiff hackles are great and will keep that dry floating high. Then there is the economy hackle like the cape you see pictured above. These economy capes can range in price from six to ten dollars, where as a grade A Whiting cape will require a substantial debit in your Mastercard. I use the economy hackle on my dry and soft hackle flies.
This is a Whiting dry fly hackle. When wound on a silk thread body it makes an effective dry fly.
Here is what helps make a soft hackle fly so effective. Notice the air bubble that is trapped as the fly moves to the surface. Trout key in on that, because that is just what happens when an insect moves to the surface.
Native strawberries are in season now. What a delicious lunch.
Oh yum, strawberry shortcake! We have been eating a lot of berries this spring.
ReplyDeleteHad a great day on a river last week but it's a haul, 110 miles each way. :-/
billp
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Bill it's a sweet time for sure. Yes 220 miles roundtrip is pushing it. But a bend in the rod makes it worth it.
It's Great to see your back writing Alan! Personally I prefer economy hackle. More often than not I'm on a small stream and so I lose an awful lot of flies to the usual hazards. I fish with every fly I tie while the economy hackle is a little more difficult to tie with it's a fair substitute for the grade A stuff. I find when I'm fishing with my grade C's I tend to get a little bit brave and cast into those promising holes that always seem to be guarded by fly eating overhangs or submerged limbs. I've noticed when jungle cock cheeks or Whiting hackle is at the tippet end I seem to think a little longer about my casting decisions. The lower grade hackle may not look as good to our eye but I've always believed in the statement "The fish care less than we do".
ReplyDeleteDean F
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Dean all good points. The sting of loosing a fly lessens when the cost is minimal. I have gotten some pretty good economy hackle in the past at fly shows.
The undercuts are where the trout are now. Low water has them choosing the cover. And yes the fish do not care about how the hackle looks.
The hackle info is helpful and so is the reminder to pick up some local strawberries.
ReplyDeleteShawn
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Shawn local farms are at their sweetest now. And soft hackles are also working pretty sweet.
Good hackle, bad hackle, just has to look buggy for us run of the mill fly tiers. Strawberry Shortcake, that's primo.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark "Good hackle, bad hackle, just has to look buggy for us run of the mill fly tiers. I agree and most fish do to. It's 3am and I'm going to have a few berries just as they are.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteHackle is a real weakness of mine. I have a soft spot for good dry fly hackle and over the years have collected some gorgeous capes from Whiting (red and green label), Keough, Metz, Collins and Root River - this in spite of a dearth of good hackle suppliers in the UK. I would love to get one of the unusual coloured barred capes from Evan Brant at Sideling Hill. Favourite colours are smokey duns, dark duns, dark grizzled and (of course) cree!
We will be getting strawberries and raspberries from my Dad's allotment shortly, I like mine plain with fresh ground black pepper (and a good glass of Cabernet Franc- ssshhhh don't tell the missus) but my wife and kids love them un 'Eton Mess'. Fresh strawberries are one of the foods of the Gods!
Take care and stay safe
Alistair
Alistair
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Alistair I recognize several of those names and agree they are gold standards in hackle. Sideling Hill is a UK producer? Yo choice of pepper on top sounds good. And the missus will not hear of the wine from us.
Hi Alan
DeleteSideling Hill Hackle is actually a US producer from Pennsylvania! Evan runs a small dairy farm but also raises hackle birds from various blood lines, including Charlie Collins and Darbee (I think most growers state that they have Darbee blood in their birds). They are some wonderful looking birds with some well reviewed hackle.
Take care and stay safe
Alistair
I never knew that. I guess it pays to read SSR's for enlightened comments. Thanks Alistair.
DeleteI came for the hackle, but stayed for the lunch.
ReplyDeleteCheck out Charlie Collin’s hackles, http://collinshacklefarm.com/Home.asp, in particular for his wet fly hackles but everything is good. No financial interest.
Best, Kevin
Ned Zeppelin
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Kevin your seat is reserved. Collins is known as a quality house. Folks do not worry about what you purchase from Collins it will be top grade.
A short snack for the brookies and one for you.
ReplyDeleteBalance is what should not be lost.
Well done!
Humberto
Achalabrookies
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Humberto we must keep our energy up.
"Balance is what should not be lost"...very true my friend.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteMy favorite strawberries are the wild ones. Very small but so sweet.
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe they have concentrated sweetness. Sort of like a brookie with parr marks.