In need of Soft Hackle Mojo

[GdubyaSmith 0]

I'm wondering what brand,type, and possibly who your suppliers are for good quality Soft Hackle for wet flies. Where do you buy??? Is it from an Online or a Local Shop? How much do you pay for the quality of the product you use most often?

I appreciate your advice...Thank You!

[flytire 0]

wet fly hackle has to be good but no way near the quality of dry fly hackle

 

local fly shop is always best then online. where you buy online is entirely up to you

 

buy a top quality hungarian partridge skin

 

whiting miner hen hackle

 

whiting brahma hen hackle/saddle

[dontheo 0]

Try to pick up an auction on the bay for some vintage feathers. You can buy them for next to nothing and the quality, for wet flys, we're a lot better. Less fluff and garbage. I also like full skins.

[rockworm 0]

I am a big advocate of full skins. Brick-and-mortar fly shops are your best source as you can make your purchase after examining the selection. When possible I get skins from a local hunter. The problem here is availability. There are also some very good retailers out there who will do their best to give you what you want.

 

If you are just starting out I would suggest: starling, partridge, grouse, hen chicken, and woodcock.

[Piker20 0]

I use cookshill for my gamebird skins apart from pheasant which I have from shooting friends and can pick out the weaker skins.

[planettrout 0]

I would also consider the color range of dyed Starling:

 

 

...from White Fox Fur and Feather, along with the various species of Quail and Chukar...

 

 

PT/TB

[Bryon Anderson 0]

I got a full Hungarian partridge skin on eBay for $15. It's been awesome!

[DUBBN 0]

The top fly is from a 5 dollar India Hen Cape. The other two patterns are from Whiting Farms. Approx. 20 dollars per cape. I dont think the fish can tell the difference. I tie with a variety of feathers, but hen is by far my favorite for soft hackles.

 

 

 

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

I guess I'm in the minority here I just load the appropriate gun be it pellet gun for starling or shotgun for dove partridge quail or ruffed grouse and go shoot my own then I get dinner and fly tying materials and the wild ones are way better then the farm raised for color variances

[GdubyaSmith 0]

I am a big advocate of full skins. Brick-and-mortar fly shops are your best source as you can make your purchase after examining the selection. When possible I get skins from a local hunter. The problem here is availability. There are also some very good retailers out there who will do their best to give you what you want.

 

If you are just starting out I would suggest: starling, partridge, grouse, hen chicken, and woodcock.

Thanks Everyone!!!

I'm looking at picking up a Hungarian Partridge full skin(have not decided where yet), a local Pheasant shooting club may be another source, and the closest decent fly shop around is 45 miles away but probably worth the trip to check out what they have.

I've been tying awhile now but mostly Dry flies and Nymphs. I've tied some Wet flies over the years but never concentrated on the basis of what makes it done the right way. This is the place to find that out and I'm blessed to have you people to turn to! I usually fish a Dropper off a Dry and the down Fly has mostly been a Hare's ear Nymph, Scud, or Czech Nymph. I feel like I can cover the water better having more options with more Wet Flies in my boxes to choose from.

I've bought supplies from Ebay and Amazon before but the quality is sometimes disappointing. That India Hen Cape sounds great if I can find one I'll add it to the next shopping list for sure! Thanks again for the help!!!

[DUBBN 0]

I guess I'm in the minority here I just load the appropriate gun be it pellet gun for starling or shotgun for dove partridge quail or ruffed grouse and go shoot my own then I get dinner and fly tying materials and the wild ones are way better then the farm raised for color variances

 

 

You eat Starlings? That's gross.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

no but my cats do

[Kudu 0]

Starlings (breasts) make excellent catfish bait.