Hackle Help

[Vince Fusco]

As most of you know, I am a tying newbe. I am having trouble making hackle look right on a fly. (see attachment) Will any feather work as hackle? I have tried some parakeet feathers, and some dove feathers I found in the yard after a hawk decided he wanted dove for breakfast yesterday morning. I have tried winding them on the hook with my fat fingers, with no luck.  Plan B was to use tweezers, and the results were a little better, but still not good. Do I need to buy a pair of hackle pliers? What kind of hackle works best for wet flies?  Should I  just be using one side of the feather? Is there a special way to tie the  hackle on my fly?  Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[Badgerloader]

I was going to try and provide a written description of how to select hackle feathers and how to wind them.  Instead I googled "how to put hackle on a fly" and found pages of links to professionally written instructions and instructional videos.  They can provide clearer and more detailed instruction then I ever could.

[Vince Fusco]

Thanks Badgerloader, I will check it out.

[Leo Nguyen]

So true. Plenty of videos and aid for selecting proper feathers as hackles. Each type of feather is used in different way as hackle. However, I always remove the fluff and use the harder feather portion as hackle. My hands are huge as well but tying hackles without the hackle plier is feasible. It helps, but not needed. I tend to over pull on the plier and rip the feather during tying, so, I like to gauge the tension of the heather using my own fingers. Tying masters will chime in soon.

[dick tabbert]

Vince I would love to help you but as I'm just starting out this year I guess hackle is my next learning curve. I know certain feather are used for certain things so I'm working on what goes where. I'm sure you will get some help and I'll monitor cause that where I am in the tying process and love to learn all I can..

[Rick King]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INLOwVYUENg beginer soft hackle part 2

[Rick King]

http://www.derekspace.net/dryhw.htm Detailed instruction pictures here.

[Bill Purmort]

Vince,

There is a big difference in the feather itself used in tying in hackle.  There are neck feathers of cock chickens that give a fly that fluffy "floating" quality...and there are grades or quality of these feathers...usually used in dry flies or floating flies.  Then there are saddle feathers...usually hen chickens...the feathers are webby and usually have long heavy  plumes...they are used a great deal in wet flies as collars...Then there are partridge, pheasant and grouse feathers that are used for nymphs legs...usually webby type feathers...

As you are begining to tie flies...buy cheap necks as they can be kind of expensive...when you get the hang of it you'll appreciate the quality of top of the line hackle feathers

 

Bill

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Bill for the info. Hope you don't mind me jumping on the bad wagon. I started tying this spring all basic stuff. Now I'm ready to get a little more advanced and that's where the feathers come in. I'm starting to purchase a few so I'm hoping after the new year I can start a few things using feathers so all the information is helpful. Again thanks for sharing.

[dick tabbert]

Bill I don't know if I thanked you for this info but It will help me for sure and thank you so very much. I do need all the help I can muster up.

[Mark Stine]

in general cock feathers tend to float but will not float long unless you use a floatant like gink.  generally hen feathers and upland game birds provide the soft hackle which is used in wet flies. CDC feathers will remain floating.  It would help to know what you are trying to tie then we could give specifics. sometimes its not critical which feather you use.  I use strung hackle for wooly buggers and popping bugs and on foam flies for winging.  Most fly patterns include a recipe like a parts list that will tell you what feather is recommended if I don't have the particular feather I will substitute something similar. Try a google search for fly patterns and you will see what I mean.

[dick tabbert]

Thanks mark the feathers are going to be interesting for me knowing what feather to use ware. I guess its part of the learning curve.

[Dale Craft]

Dick,
It all depends on what you want the fly to do as to what type of feather to use. Dry flies require rooster feathers, wet flies usually hen feathers, soft hackle and nymphs use upland game(including dove). I have acquired a lot of types and really enjoy tying with genetic saddle hackle, usually get 4-5 fled from one feather. Hope this helps.