Ostrich herls

[partsman 0]

Anybody ever use ostrich herls from feather dusters like you might find at your local Ace hardware, or are herls from a fly shop a better investment.

Thanks, Mike.

[cphubert 0]

I have used them for intruder style flies for economy - no color choice, grey and shades of gray.

[SalarMan 0]

36 minutes ago, partsman said:

Anybody ever use ostrich herls from feather dusters like you might find at your local Ace hardware, or are herls from a fly shop a better investment.

Thanks, Mike.

Depends on what you are tying Mike. My use for them is strictly on classic Atlantic Salmon flies, so I only use the best I can find from a fly shop...specifically from my long time friend John McLain, owner/operator feathersmc.com. For many steelhead patterns you'd need a variety of colors...and feather dusters won't help you there. Those would be useful for a lot of trout flies would be my guess.

George

[Sandan 0]

At around 7-8 bucks I don't really see any reason not to get the color(s) you want from the fly shop

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

Years ago I gave them a try, using fibers from low quality plumes picked up at a craft store… They looked good dry, but when they get wet they never contributed much to any pattern I was working with so I quit using them….. All of my stuff, of course is for saltwaters..

[denduke 0]

Lotta uses for the herls but never used them in length. Great for collars, lil “hackles” and short tails, legs.  The feather duster stuff would work for that.  
 

 

[WWKimba 0]

If my memory serves me right the dusters come in only white or grey colors (and maybe black).  Here's a couple patterns that use those colors.

Hare and Herl - a Tennesssee pattern by Warren Patterson

 

Mysis Shrimp - A pattern by Wayne and Kelly Graff, useful in the Great Lakes watershed, it's an invasive species from Europe.

 

Yamamoto's Giant Sowbug - Originated by Satoshi Yamamoto from Livingston, MT

 

Persuader - An English pattern by John Goddard

 -

Ostrich Herl - Originated by Bruce Banks

 

Good Luck!

Kim

 

[flytire 0]

if youre gonna tie a bazillion flies of one or two colors, get the duster

if youre gonna tie an occasional fly pattern, get the fly shop herls.

more options regarding colors and probably better quality

[Sandan 0]

6 hours ago, flytire said:

if youre gonna tie a bazillion flies of one or two colors, get the duster

 

At least a bazillion.

[flytire 0]

minimum 😀

[vicrider 0]

I just ordered some ostrich from Amazon to see what they were like in comparison to what I have. Price was cheap, shipping free, and the quality was better than anything I have in my stash now. Listed for hobby use but I don't think they'll mind me tying with them.

[denduke 0]

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