CSB1 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 From what I understand the most popular necks most of us use are Rooster Necks. What kind of bird do the premium neck hackles come from? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 Premium roosters. Same bird, just better ones. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cphubert 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 Premium roosters with long history of breeding just for color, barb count, and hackle length. Search Tom Whiting Hackles he has some informative video. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 There are all roosters, but they are not all the same roosters. Flyyfishfood has a few good YouTube videos with Tom Whiting explaining the whole thing. Here is one Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyquahog 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 There is lots of information on the internet that is easy to find. More than you probably want to know. The following is a good start, but just a start. In the 40s and 50s, a Catskills fly-tier named Harry Darbee crossed Thompson Barred Rock roosters with Old English Games, Blue Andalusians, and several other breeds, in an effort to create the perfect dun-colored neck cape. He sent eggs to a Minneapolis lawyer named Andy Miner, who employed meticulous breeding methods to create a range of colors and feathers unparalleled in their time. A great deal of the hackle available today owes to the bloodlines of these two breeders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Moshup 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 I have a nice Miner cape ! A tan dun . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CSB1 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 After CP Huberts lead I did the search on Tom Collins Hackles. While looking around I came up with a link. It had some interesting info. about necks. Good read. Thanks Guys. http://cgtu.org/documents/publications/genetic_hackle.pdf Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt Bob LeMay 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 A quick note about chicken feathers, saddles or necks, hens or roosters... The ideal freshwater fly tying necks (or saddles) aren’t exactly what saltwater tyers need at all... In fact that lovely genetic product so prized by skilled freshwater tyers is lost on those of us that tie for the salt, mostly... Instead, we’re looking for wide, webby, saddles and neck hackles that are strung in uniform lengths and dyed or bleached as needed. Most freshwater tyers would consider the feathers that I prize to be junk and pass them by whenever they come across them... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilverCreek 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 12 hours ago, CSB1 said: From what I understand the most popular necks most of us use are Rooster Necks. What kind of bird do the premium neck hackles come from? Read this: http://whitingfarms.com/whiting-farms-story/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redietz 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 Those appear to be saddles, not necks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 4 hours ago, flytire said: I love this picture. He's an amazing bird. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 2 hours ago, redietz said: Those appear to be saddles, not necks. You are right, but it makes a point. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 5 hours ago, Capt Bob LeMay said: Most freshwater tyers would consider the feathers that I prize to be junk and pass them by whenever they come across them... That's cuz you wouldn't know a good feather if someone tickled your foot with it. Ha ha ha.😋 Of course I tease you. That's one of the things I love about fly tying. There's so many directions you can go in. I'm fortunate, I get to use the best of both worlds. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bimini15 0 Report post Posted October 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Mark Knapp said: I love this picture. He's an amazing bird. And the rooster is pretty good too...😃 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites