Bimini15 0 Report post Posted May 24, 2018 I am no expert in fowl, so I have a silly question: When a fly recipe calls for bronze mallard, is bronze just another color of flank feathers or is it a different type of feather or bird altogether? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
chugbug27 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2018 It's a specialized natural mallard feather, each drake has I think maybe four or five on each shoulder. https://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/shop/bronze_mallard/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fshng2 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2018 CB you are right. Eric Leiser mentions it in The Complete book of Fly Tying. Bronze Mallard: Feathers from drake mallard ducks just above the point where the wing merges with the body; similar to the flank, except much of the feather is brown/ bronze. Like the flank it is also barred with black stripes. Their are usually only six of them on a prime drake mallard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spiralspey 0 Report post Posted May 25, 2018 Yup, just a few feathers on each bird. You usually find them sold in small packs with matching right and left pairs of feathers. Not only are there only a few feathers per bird, each feather only has a small sweet spot where the fibers are really usable if you're using them for wings on spey flies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted May 25, 2018 Back Duke! Den+Duke Back to the forum which is already in progress.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted May 26, 2018 For a good picture and a description scroll down half way; http://www.featheremporium.com/Exotic-Feathers/waterfowl/mallard.html Pick a size that lets you use the fibers full length for best results, I think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bazzer69 0 Report post Posted June 2, 2018 For a good picture and a description scroll down half way; http://www.featheremporium.com/Exotic-Feathers/waterfowl/mallard.html Pick a size that lets you use the fibers full length for best results, I think. Best do a google search on FE before you buy from them. I made a small purchase from them several months ago that was very good! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tjm 0 Report post Posted June 2, 2018 Buy mallard? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites