Can you use
hen hackle
for
dry flies
?
Hen hackles are easily the best choice for dry fly wings The stems are flexible enough to allow the wings to “collapse” when cast, thus preventing undue leader twist. Most hen neck feathers have an obvious web line, which makes the wings more visible in the finished fly.
What flies use Grizzly hackle?
Deceivers, flatwings, many pike flies and classic North East streamers have sides and wings made from grizzly, and many a classic dry fly will feature wings or hackle taken from a
grizzly saddle
or neck.
What is spade hackle?
Spade hackles are the feathers found on the sides of a hackle cape The overall shapes of the feathers do not lend themselves to making nice wrapped collars, but the fibers on these hackles are very stiff and ideal for making tails.
Whats the difference between a cape and a saddle?
Saddles and capes. Capes are often referred to as necks. The biggest difference is in the length of the feather and the variety of sizes you can get out of a particular saddle or cape Capes are a lot shorter in length, so two feathers are often required to get the full effect of the hackle.
Can you use feathers for fly tying?
The feathers can be used to tie nymph wing cases and legs, and even used for larger soft hackle flies along with tying on collars.
What are cape feathers?
The “cape” is the patch of feathers found around the neck The smaller feathers, found near the head, are used for making
small wet flies
; the larger feathers near the bottom of the neck are excellent for tying larger wet flies, the throats on salmon flies and streamers, and the wings on dry flies.
How do I buy hackle for fly tying?
No matter what, don’t buy too big. Too long hackles will do very little good for a fly, while hackle that’s a little too small does less harm. Look for consistent barb length for the hook size you need Borrow or bring a hackle gauge to measure the barbs, or simply use a hook of the size you plan to tie on.
What color is dun in fly tying?
A DUN color is usually a brown gray or a gray mixed with a blue A weird thing is one of the most popular DUN patterns is the PALE MORNING DUN which is typically a yellow and white. In fly tying the term DUN hackle is sometimes used to indicate the wrapping forming the body of a fly.
What is a chicken saddle?
What is a chicken saddle: Chicken saddles are made to protect your hen’s back from a
roosters nails
and spurs When a rooster over mates a hen this can lead to serious and sometimes life threatening damage.
What feathers are used for fly tying?
Below is a general guide on common feathers used in fly tying like: CDC, turkey biots, wood duck, quills, peacock herl, pheasant tails , and so on.
What is chicken hackle?
In birds, the hackle is the group of feathers found along the back and side of the neck The hackles of some types of chicken, particularly roosters, are long, fine, and often brightly coloured. These hackles may be used in fly fishing as lures.
What are Coq de Leon feathers?
Coq De Leon feathers are spade hackles and from the shoulder of the bird Generally, the bird is mature and feathers are hand plucked, sorted and graded. Originally the feathers were never sold as a pelt because it was felt that as the bird aged, the fibers became stiffer and more brillant in color.
What is a Schlappen feather?
Schlappen is the center section of the saddle piece or the tail feathers Schalppen is the webbest feather and is commonly used on salmon and steelhead flies or streamers as a collar or beard.
What is a hen cape?
A Hen Cape is a basic and essential material that makes great upright wings on dry flies, but can also be used for collars on nymphs and traditional wet flies The larger feathers on these capes are perfect for Matuka wings and tails on streamers patterns as well.
Are turkey feathers good for tying flies?
Turkey tail feathers, if you are not planning on mounting the tail fan, are another highly functional piece of fly tying material The fibers from the tail feather can be applied to a multitude of patterns and are a great substitute for when a fly recipe calls for pheasant.
Can you use quail feathers for fly tying?
Quail feathers are primarily used for making soft-hackle collars on wet flies, and legs and wing cases on nymphs. Due to their diminutive size, however, quail feathers are usually limited to tying very small flies.
References
https://globalflyfisher.com/tie-better/buying-dry-fly-hackle
https://www.featheremporium.com/Fly-Tying-Feathers/dry-fly-hackle.html