Trampus 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 As I slowly collect the materials I will need for tying I have come to the point where I need Pheasant Tail feathers for tying soft hackle flies. Since I have to order online since I have no shop near me, I would like to order whatever colors I will use the most to take advantage of the shipping charges. I plan on fishing these flies for trout and so I am only interested in colors for trout flies. Also, a recommendation on Partridge feathers would be appreciated as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FIN-ITE 34 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 Tail- Natural Olive Black Partridge- Natural Olive But to be honest, the only colors of either that you really need are natural. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phg 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 OK, I'm not quite sure what you want. Normally, pheasant tails aren't used for soft hackles.... For partridge, I'd suggest ordering a full skin. Ruffed Grouse, Sharp Tail Grouse or Hungarian Partridge are pretty much interchangeable. You use the body feathers for the hackle on a soft hackle. I only use natural colors. Pheasant tails are used on a lot of nymph patterns. There again, I use mostly natural, but olive, golden olive and black are useful as well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave G. 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 Same here, my vote is for natural. Though I must say I don't tie many of these flies. I'm a fan of peacock and hen soft hackles, again natural. I've been very pleased with a little Wapsi natural hen cape I picked up for tying these. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave G. 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 OK, I'm not quite sure what you want. Normally, pheasant tails aren't used for soft hackles.... For partridge, I'd suggest ordering a full skin. Ruffed Grouse, Sharp Tail Grouse or Hungarian Partridge are pretty much interchangeable. You use the body feathers for the hackle on a soft hackle. I only use natural colors. Pheasant tails are used on a lot of nymph patterns. There again, I use mostly natural, but olive, golden olive and black are useful as well. phg, I suspect he is tying these : https://youtu.be/n7vpfcKPvzo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trampus 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 Correct Dave...I will be tying those with and without the beadhead. The Partridge is for the hackle and the Pheasant tail is for the body. Peacock for the thorax. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 4 basic colors black brown (natural) olive tan but for as many dyed pheasant colors as there are i'd get 1 each of all colors. they can always be used for flies other than soft hackles and dont forget about tails from other pheasants Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Philly 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 I tie all my PT Nymphs as bead head soft hackles. I use natural, black, two shades of olive and a dark brown. The only difference is I use starling rather than partridge for the soft hackle. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Poopdeck 0 Report post Posted June 18, 2016 Natural and olive. The rest of the colors are for hoarders. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RickZieger 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2016 Most of my PTN are now tied taking one barb off from 6 to 8 colors of pheasant tails to make the body and wingcase. Usually two colors of peacock herl for thorax. They work for me. Rick Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NohackleHS 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2016 I don't tie pheasant tail soft hackles, but I do tie a lot of PT nymphs. Two of my favorite PT colors that have not been mentioned yet are orange and yellow. On my local trout stream orange PT's are my absolute favorite color. My local stream is heavily pounded so the orange may be effective because it is different from what other anglers are throwing. But for whatever reason, orange works really well. I mention yellow because yellow PT's are effective imitations for callibaetis. Yellow PT also work very well on my local stream. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted June 19, 2016 Natural. Have had dyed ones and think altering bead colour or having a coloured wire rib is far better than coloured feather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
epzamora 0 Report post Posted June 21, 2016 when buying partridge, i'd also recommend buying a whole skin. i bought a bag, and there's such a low percentage of good feathers, it's quite aggravating. eric fresno, ca. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Trampus 0 Report post Posted June 21, 2016 Thanks Eric..I will. Also thank you to everyone's opinions and advise. I decided to keep it simple to start with and just ordered the natural feathers. There will be time enough to explore other colors down the road. Tight Lines Dan Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
epzamora 0 Report post Posted June 22, 2016 Sure thing, Dan. I tie trout flies and try to keep expenses down. I started with natural pheasant tails, but felt i really (really) "needed" dark brown too. just HAD to have it. so those two would be my minimal suggestion for starting. Also, I found a few patterns that used yellow for golden stones. The mention of orange sounds intriguing and i bet black would come in handy too later down the road. And of course, olive. But def natural and brown. also, while you're ordering, consider some goose biots for biot bodies. dries and nymphs. adams grey, olive, brown. and don't forget CDC, in dun, white... oh, this can be a sickness..... eric fresno, ca. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites