Small Spey and Dee style flies; what do you use for hackle?

[despatiesim 0]

Hi all, do any of you tie small sized Spey or Dee style flies? Sizes 8 to 10 (9 to 11)? And with hackle ribbed up the body? I've been using heron feathers for bigger flies (6 and up), but can't readily find smaller feathers for smaller flies. The xsmall feathers here are too big to my liking. I was wondering what you all use for this? What is readily available as a substitue, or prefered feather for these small flies?

 

Thanks!

[zip 0]

I use golden pheasant body feathers for small stuff.You can also use shlappen

[despatiesim 0]

Thanks for the insight Zip!

[zip 0]

Anytime bud!Don't waste your heron feathers on small stuff.

[Piker20 0]

Yes peasant and partridge make great feathers for these flies in small sizes. Don't over look ringneck pheasant as there are loads of rich bronze and mottled feathers on a skin.

[despatiesim 0]

Thanks guys!

[Frank G. Swarner III 0]

Blue eared pheasant, coot feathers and even rump feathers on male wood ducks should work just fine as well as what has already been mentioned above.

 

Frank