Jump to content
Fly Tying
Sign in to follow this  
TimKil38

"Webby" Hackle

Recommended Posts

I've been fly fishing for many many years, but just got started into tying. I've seen tying directions that call for "webby" hackle but I can't find a definition for what that means. A large fly tying catalog has a product that says a hackle is "semi webby." I'm starting with woolly buggers since that's the fly I lose the most.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Woolybuggers are generally tied with saddle hackle. Other than Whiting's and Metz's genetic hackles, most saddles will be webby enough.

 

Web refers to the part of the feather where the barbs have distinct fuzziness, rather than the clean, well defined single strands found on dry fly hackles. All hackles get webby near the base, but some are webbier than others. Chinese and Indian saddles are what one usually uses for woolybuggers and the like.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Here is a good illustration of various hackles. http://www.eflytyer.com/materials/feathers.html

 

All of the top row, and the bottom row, from the blue feather to the right, are webby hackles. For a woolybugger, the feathers on the bottom row, from the blue feather to the right, will all work well. The last one on the right, the schlappen, may be too webby for smaller 'buggers.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Here is a good illustration of various hackles. http://www.eflytyer.com/materials/feathers.html

 

All of the top row, and the bottom row, from the blue feather to the right, are webby hackles. For a woolybugger, the feathers on the bottom row, from the blue feather to the right, will all work well. The last one on the right, the schlappen, may be too webby for smaller 'buggers.

This is an awesome link. Thanks for the share!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Strung saddle hackle is usually pretty cheap ($6/pack or so). A step up in quality would be the Ewing or Whiting Bugger Pack. But I've tied a ton of buggers on strung saddle.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I am an intermediate tyer and do not worry so much about what kind of feathers I use (yet) as long as they are the right size/color. As you develop your technique and get a good grasp of the basics you can build on it and start to gather more "proper" materials. For now, I often still use lower grade feathers for nymphs, streamers and dries (especially parachutes) and I still catch fish. For buggers I use cheap strung saddle and the fish haven't complained yet! This guy was caught on a Para Adams that was tied with cheap hackle. After the first couple fish the fly did not want to stay on top but they still hammered it anyways.

post-27134-0-03409400-1497622896_thumb.jpeg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Tim. You may want to look at " Feather emporiums web site , this guy has a break down on every feather that's been on a bird , he literally list birds A-Z there uses and what parts of the bird are used for specific types of flys , there's birds on there I never knew existed , good read and very informative, I've done some orders with him and did fine , pretty informative site , just my 2-cents

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
Sign in to follow this  

×
×
  • Create New...