Would You Eat This?

Comment

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 17, 2013 at 7:04am

Thanks, Joe!
I think I'll take out the fluffy chenille on the next one and go with some floss or tinsel.
Maybe a slimmer dubbed body profile would also work.

Comment by Joe Angelucci on October 16, 2013 at 8:49pm

Dave

Here is a link as to what is for sale in the UK. Looks like different parts have different values and uses. I'm a huge fan of the North Country Spiders

http://www.theessentialfly.com/

Comment by Leo Nguyen on October 16, 2013 at 7:43pm

With a bit of cheese and black peppers..yeah!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 16, 2013 at 7:29pm

Jim, the feather trade caused the enactment of the restrictions back in the early part of the 20th century. Today, they remain. I do have some bird hunting friendsI could ask. Doves and turkeys, some ducks.

As for the other birds, well, lemme just keep quiet...I am well aware of the restrictions from my days of worrying about hawks preying on my chickens.

Out here in the country, we have a ton of little brown birds. They are all fair game in my eyes and I dont think Im going to make the world stop spinning if I harvest one or two. But I can get all the feathers I can use at Hobby Lobby - I just dont know which feathers are which. Nor can I get some really ones.

Do wither of you guys have a link to something that describes the various feathers, their source on the bird and what they are best used for in tying flies?

Comment by Allen Morgan on October 16, 2013 at 6:56pm

David, you have to be very careful.  There's a Federal law, MBLA is what I think it's called.  Deals with the harvest and sale of Migratory birds, basically, all birds.  Two rules of thumb:  1)  If it has webbed feet, you can use it as long as it's harvested according to State Laws (think ducks, geese, etc.).  2)  Upland Game birds (grouse, pheasants, turkeys, doves, etc.) can be used as long as they are harvested according to State Laws.  ALL OTHER "NATIVE" BIRDS ARE PROTECTED!  Bluebirds, Cardinals, etc., are illegal to harvest, use, or posses, this includes feathers.

Starlings are from Europe, and are terribly invasive.  Kill all you want.  English House Sparrows are as well.  Here's a good set of images of Starlings.  Odds are, you've seen them.  They're everywhere.  Loud, nasty, filthy birds.

https://www.google.com/search?q=european+starling+images&ie=utf...

Comment by jim cosgrove on October 16, 2013 at 6:51pm

be very careful what feathers you use.some are illegal to possess .most birds are protected.game birds are fine as long as someone  gives you the feathers or you legally take it your self.domestic birds are fine too.crazy world now days. 

'

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on October 16, 2013 at 6:39pm

I know some duck men, yes. What are you thinking?

As for the Starling, I dont think it is too morbid. I wouldnt know a Starling if it bit me, but there are plenty of little birds around here, and I have a pellet gun. Im guessing I could get some very small hackle feathers from them....

Comment by jim cosgrove on October 16, 2013 at 6:38pm

the british and scotch are the experts with this type of fly.they call them spiders over there.

Comment by jim cosgrove on October 16, 2013 at 6:36pm

like allan suggests,non native birds are fair game.food for thought,you can get a pretty fancy rooster alive for about 10 bucks.look how much decent hackle goes for these days.

Comment by jim cosgrove on October 16, 2013 at 6:32pm

nice soft hackle,david.try the hackle in front of the bead.pheasant feathers are great for this and easy to come by.the ones they call church windows.from the back on the body are good and have a nice barred appearence when spun on the hook.if you got friends who hunt pheasnt grouse partridge wood ducks turkeys etc.they usually throw the featers away.i put the loose feathers in a bag in the freezer to dry them and kill anything that may be on em,

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