Hen necks, saddles, capes,etc..?

[Brian_A 0]

I am trying to figure out what all these are used for. Ive seen dry patterns call for hen wings. Im not sure what to buy for these types of flies.

Also if anyone has the time to list a few different uses for necks, saddles, capes etc..

I see so many different types, just trying to sort it all out.

thanks

[flyline64 0]

Very basically

 

Necks, also called capes, (both rooster and hen) come from the neck shoulders and back and have a wider variety of relatively shorter feathers. Saddles are further down on the bird, drape over one side and give much longer feathers but with narrower size range.

 

Hen hackle is for wet fly collars and beards, dry fly wings (not hackles, but wings) etc.

It is softer and webbier than rooster.

 

Rooster hackle is stiffer and used primarily for dry fly hackle (regular, parachute, thorax etc.) As noted above, the feathers on a good rooster cape will cover many sizes (from 10s for buggers down as small as 28). The most expensive capes generally have the most small feathers. Saddles cover a much narrower range (generally no smaller than 14 or 16, though whiting has midge saddles). But long, straight feathers on a good sadddle will each tie many flies.

 

Hope that helps, I'm sure some others can post links to articles with more info.

[atroutbum2 0]

Basicly, a hen cape or saddle has a webbier feather that absorbs water, and is better suited for wet/nymph/streamer applications.

 

Usually used for, but not limited to, itimitating the legs and wings on these patterns.

[steelie 0]

Good Day,

 

The following download should answer everything.

 

http://flyfisherman.com/downloads/flydesign/

 

Steelie

[flyline64 0]

This will give you an idea of where the feathers come from on the rooster:

 

 

[Brian_A 0]

Thanks everyone for all the help!

Flyline I appreciate you taking the time to explain it all to me.

Steelie, thanks for the download that is great, just what I was looking for.

 

 

[skunkaroo 0]

Brian,

 

I did drop you a reply in your forum e-mail.

 

Aaron

[Brian_A 0]

Skunkaroo I checked for Pms but I didnt see any messages. I may just be an idiot, and dont know where to look though. I havent really fooled around with the site at all yet.

[skunkaroo 0]

I sent it as an e-mail to what I assume was the e-mail you registered on the forum with. You can get there by clicking a member's handle and by looking under the section entitled "Communication". In there, there's a button to send an e-mail message.

 

It's not a big deal; most of the information I sent is included in the posts above.