Fish Finder 0 Report post Posted August 5, 2020 2 hours ago, troutmaster08 said: I've used guinea fowl feather for my soft hackle. I do as well, esp. dyed, but it's best to buy the whole skin to get the sizes needed. Whiting occasionally has whole skins available, but those are snapped up quickily. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bret M 0 Report post Posted December 14, 2024 I’ve recently been learning how to use larger feathers for smaller flies. This expands the types of feather I can use. I’m currently tying with some beautiful feathers that have been cast off by ‘city ducks’ at a community lake. As others have said, any bird will work - just make sure you use feathers that aren’t stiff so they can move freely in the water. Here is a great video that shows one way to use longer feathers: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted December 14, 2024 I've been a fan of soft hackle patterns for the last 50 years +or-. I have advocated for simplicity in flies to many member of my fly tying club for the simple reason those flies are easy to tie and they WORK! Use the hair dryer trick. It does the job of setting the feather just the way you want it well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niveker 0 Report post Posted December 15, 2024 Nice post - never saw that blow-dryer trick before Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SalarMan 0 Report post Posted December 15, 2024 39 minutes ago, niveker said: Nice post - never saw that blow-dryer trick before Quite a while ago I was struggling with the heron hackle on the pattern "Miss Grant". My friend Matt in Michigan told me about the hair dryer trick and this was the result...and believe me the hackle was anywhere and everywhere before the hair dryer. Just use a low heat setting!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DrLogik 0 Report post Posted January 10 I tie with Starling quite a bit as well as Pheasant, Woodcock, Snipe, Waterhen and hen hackle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moshup 0 Report post Posted January 11 On 5/22/2020 at 10:46 AM, Sandan said: hun, grouse, chukar, starling, CDC hen saddle, hen cape and sometimes I'll go through my pheasant feather collection to pick out something. What about the golden plover and brown owl skins you like to use Sandan? I would mention the Dotterel skin but probably not a good idea. *** Nice to read you by the way and it’s also nice that many of the regular posters are still here. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sandan 0 Report post Posted January 11 Please don't mention it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moshup 0 Report post Posted January 12 13 hours ago, Sandan said: Please don't mention it. 👍 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
