Beggining with soft hackle and need help!

[Flyingandtyin 0]

So I'm a new member to the incredible fly tying community and need advice on how to work soft hackle, any advice?

[denduke 0]

There’s couple good videos on that subject at the end of this thread.  

 

[planettrout 0]

If there is a desire to really get into soft hackles, I would suggest these books rather than YouTube videos:

https://www.amazon.com/Tying-Fishing-Soft-Hackled-Nymphs-Allen/dp/1571884033/ref=pd_lpo_14_img_0/141-0188762-8703929?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1571884033&pd_rd_r=9313c41c-14c0-492b-88fe-db91776ef7d7&pd_rd_w=wN5cx&pd_rd_wg=AjJqs&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=CDX55DJ8PV0QM3E1NEM9&psc=1&refRID=CDX55DJ8PV0QM3E1NEM9

https://www.amazon.com/Soft-Hackled-Fly-Hackles-Trout-Fishermans/dp/0811701514/ref=pd_sbs_14_1/141-0188762-8703929?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0811701514&pd_rd_r=96039b16-94f1-4267-9739-d3f0194b9bb6&pd_rd_w=UxzLU&pd_rd_wg=cxHOd&pf_rd_p=ed1e2146-ecfe-435e-b3b5-d79fa072fd58&pf_rd_r=1FA727NR52BRTSAX8ZVR&psc=1&refRID=1FA727NR52BRTSAX8ZVR

 

https://www.amazon.com/Fly-Fishing-Soft-Hackles-Nymphs-Emergers-Flies/dp/0811716848/ref=pd_bxgy_img_3/141-0188762-8703929?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0811716848&pd_rd_r=51d29e67-4150-4d35-88e7-40a6d7c2435b&pd_rd_w=oVsOp&pd_rd_wg=evsNJ&pf_rd_p=ce6c479b-ef53-49a6-845b-bbbf35c28dd3&pf_rd_r=WDCATV5XH9XJ25GPS9E6&psc=1&refRID=WDCATV5XH9XJ25GPS9E6

 

https://www.amazon.com/Wet-Flies-Fishing-Soft-Hackles-Flymphs/dp/0811716244/ref=pd_sbs_14_2/141-0188762-8703929?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0811716244&pd_rd_r=ba9a6eec-08e1-4536-8bda-63e35a9526fe&pd_rd_w=jpwWQ&pd_rd_wg=R5Izm&pf_rd_p=ed1e2146-ecfe-435e-b3b5-d79fa072fd58&pf_rd_r=20W7SCY7QY8SF5TW41C2&psc=1&refRID=20W7SCY7QY8SF5TW41C2

You may have an interest in Allen McGee's website: 

http://allenmcgee.blogspot.com

 

 

PT/TB

[Moshup 0]

Some excellent reading selections by planettrout. i have two of the titles and have read a third.  Some excellent videos out as well and if you’re on fb there are a couple of soft hackle groups that are excellent. Here is one that is very good.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1293827960629032/?ref=group_browse

[Sandan 0]

11 hours ago, planettrout said:

If there is a desire to really get into soft hackles, I would suggest these books rather than YouTube videos:

(cut for brevity)

PT/TB

Great selection. Thanks. As an aside I'm deep into your Epeorus/Pink Lady and Bridge of $3.00 - For MOO pages. Gotta tie up some patterns for a trip the YNP/Henry's Fork/Madison etc. this July.

[tidewaterfly 0]

Welcome to Fly Tying!  You'll never go wrong paying attention to anything that PT suggests. 

Generally any soft fibered type of feather can be used for soft hackle flies, but those from game birds & hen chickens are probably the most used. Hackle from birds such as Starlings are used too, so depending on the size of the flies you desire to tie, obtain hackle types that will provide suitable sized hackles. The rest of it is then mostly color or pattern preferences.

Soft hackle flies are really not complicated, and shouldn't be over dressed. About two wraps of hackle is all you need. 

Obtain some of the books/information that PT and others have suggested, and start tying!  👍

 

 

[WWKimba 0]

Welcome to the world of fly tying!  I've been doing this for almost 50 years now and love to work with new tyers.

On materials, if you plan on tying soft hackles on a regular basis You'll want to get some full skins instead of packets of feathers to better stretch your tying dollar.  As a new beginner just starting out and trying new things packets are OK, but skins will be where you'll end up (that is if you find you fall in love with tying!).  You'll probably see many patterns that read partridge an "something" and , yes, partridge is/was THEE primary soft hackle feather.  But at $35 - $40 per skin it can be a little out of many new tyers price range.  Quail (available at 1/3 to 1/2 the price) is a very nice substitute.  I'd also recommend male Ringnecked Pheasant (the Swiss army knife of fly tying!).  It has a large variety of feather patterns and will be indispensable for tying for tying nymphs and streamers as well. Another nice skin (called the "poor man's jungle cock" due to the feathers being used as eyes on streamers) is the starling.  You can get a good skin for $5-$7 and it will cover your needs for black soft hackle feathers (hen works as well for the soft hackles).  Lastly, hen feathers because you can get a wide range of natural and dyed colors.

As a beginner tyer here's a great article you may like to look at - tps://globalflyfisher.com/tie-better/dont-tie-flies - don't let the name fool you, it's said tongue in cheek!  Also, this should be a good reference for ANY new tyer - https://jackgartside.com/step_soft_hackle_flies.htm.  Many new tyers ask "What is a set of good, easy flies I could start with - I look at it now as "Which fly tyers have effective flies that are good for new tyers.  If you were to ask me to list my Top 10 fly tyers that I would like to follow Jack would EASILY be in the top 3 AT LEAST!  There are many of Jack's patterns that are fish getters, easy to tie, do not use many materials and the materials use are mostly from what I call the fly tyers pantry - a list of materials that are used to tie many patterns, cheap and easy to work with!  Hope this helps.

Kim

--AND NOW FOR A COMERCIAL MESSAGE--

If you check the Fly Swaps and Contests section of this forum I'll be posting my 3rd swap (in a series of 5) in the next few days - "Beginner/Intermediate Swap - Wet Flies/Soft Hackles" and you are most welcome to register if you'd like.  For more information on this series look in the Beginners section of this forum and you'll see my original post on this series - I tag all these with a "new tyer" tag so they are easy to pick out.  Also, feel free to PM me with ANY questions (to PM - personal message - me just hit on my name or duck symbol and you'll be taken to a place on this site were you can send a message just for my eyes.  Hopes this helps and I hope you have as much fun tying as I have had over the years!

--I NOW RETURN YOU TO YOUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING--

BTW, I HATE to admit this but this is an OLD picture!

"Tie an ugly fly and go out on an ugly day and catch an ugly fish!"

Kim

[Flyingandtyin 0]

It's no soft hackle but it's my own. Thanks for all the advice!!

[Shmang 0]

I am on vacation starting Friday at Noon and will be fishing every day through the Sunday after Thanksgiving. To prep for this time on the water I just finished up 64 soft hackle patterns. I will give many of these to friends on the water but to me you can never have enough SH patterns!  They shouldn't be overcomplicated to tie but can be so effective on the water. There are some great suggestions above so check out those resources.

Good luck.

[Flyingandtyin 0]

@Shmang Tight lines!

[Jacks Grampa 0]