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mhackney

Hackle for dry fly tails

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I need brown and grizzly hackle fibers to tie dry flies. My Metz 1/2 rooster capes don't have any feathers near long enough - the fibers need to extend the length of a hook shank for, say, a #12 hook. My local shop only has the metz capes I bought and I really don't know how to tell if I'm getting the right thing via mail order since the descriptions are a bit lacking. Any help greatly appreciated!

 

Michael

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Are you looking for size 12 specifically or do you want a good range of hackles?

 

If you are only looking for hackles with feathers that will produce fibers for hooks in the 10-14 range I would try a saddle either from whiting or from metz (the microbarb saddle). the feathers will be long and usually are consistantly within a few hook sizes of each other so they are good if you are tying alot of one size fly.

 

If you want a neck with just a larger range of sizes but still with the teeny size 18-22 hackles feathers then buy a whiting neck- it will be one of the best fly tying investments ever made. It will have plenty of feathers for all your hook sizes.

 

If you order any of these sight unseen you should be pleased also check the retailer's satisfaction policy some will take back any product you are unhappy with as long as it is undamaged.

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rougetrout, thanks for the reply. I guess I didn't make myself very clear! The 1/2 capes I have are great for hackles in sizes 20 to about 10, but I need really long fibers for tails. The tail fibers need to be about 7/8" long to use on a #12 dry fly. I picked #12 because it is about the largest dry I tie and if the fibers are long enough for that size, they will be fine for smaller hooks.

 

Does it make more sense to you now?

 

cheers,

Michael

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Ahhh..sorry I didn't understand . dunno.gif Have you thought about buying the strung hackle avalible in most fly stores for bass bugs and the like. The feathers are usually decent for tail fibers, they tend to not be webby and the best of all they are cheap and avalible in all sorts of natural and dry colors. These are what I use most consistently.

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The tailing fibers usually come frome the spade hackles which are located midway down the cape on the edge of the cape. being that you have 1/2 capes you probably only have edge to work with but they should be there. They are usually short and wide and are usually sufficient to tail any fly the cape will tie. Good Luck, cool.gif

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Whitling now markets what they call Tailing packs, they are great for tailing dry flies. They come in a variety of colors. I bought some in a local shop for arround $10 us.

 

Whitling also markets a saddle called "Coq De Leon" . To quote from the makketing hype on the back of the package-excellent tailing fibers...also provide large size wet and dry fly hackle for hex, skater, wulff and other large patterns. i forget what i paid of it .

 

I have both products and they are excellent quality. I am not sure of all the colors available in both product lines.

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Chinese neck hackles are cheap and also have many other uses. They should provide you with enough tail hackle for a few years. Two necks should be under $20.00

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I saw A.K.Best at a tying seminar, He uses nothing but "Coq De Leon" for hackle tails. A.K. says they are stiffer than most hackle fibers and keep the body of the fly off the water like a natural.

 

He has them in every color possible. So you heard it from A.K. Best and atroutbum2; the experts, take it for what its worth.

 

Conehead

PS: I use micro-fibbets (sorry about the spelling)

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QUOTE (conehead @ May 16 2005, 08:04 PM)
I saw A.K.Best at a tying seminar, He uses nothing but "Coq De Leon" for hackle tails. A.K. says they are stiffer than most hackle fibers and keep the body of the fly off the water like a natural.

He has them in every color possible. So you heard it from A.K. Best and atroutbum2; the experts, take it for what its worth.

Conehead
PS: I use micro-fibbets (sorry about the spelling)

Conehead, Thank for the vote of confidence, but no way am i in ak's league. Maby a talented amature.

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The Coq De Leon feathers that A.K. uses are from Spain, and are the real thing. THey're long, very stiff & very glossy. Hard to find the real ones. If you're looking for a more readily available material, ask for scapula. These are usually trimmed off a cape. I don't know if that's what Whiting is selling as tailing packs...haven't seen them around here yet. Mail-order houses should know what the scapula is though. Try Hunter's or Feather Craft.

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