Bob I also like the English Red Grouse and have several sets of English Red Grouse and Woodcock wings that I obtained from either Ellis Slater and / or Steve Cooper (Cookshill). For the past several years, I've been getting my Partridge skins from an Orvis store (I know the manager). He orders sever...

For quite a few years, a friend in Europe used to send me soft hackle materials he purchased from Ellis Slater, who, unfortunately has since passed away. So, several years ago, I started ordering materials directly from Cookshill in the UK sending Steve Cooper a list of what I wanted and then paying...

John For many years, I have been using Maxima Ultragreen when I tie my own leaders ... using Oliver Kite's leader formula (or as close as I can get to it) of 20# (54"), 12# (10"), 6# (10"), 5# (10")& 4# (36"). I usually fish only two flies at a time tying the second fly ...

Although I can see the slight difference in the English Grouse and Woodcock hackles (on the wing), it's getting more and more difficult for me to tell the difference once the hackles are dressed onto to a hook. Call it age, eye sight, or whatever, but I do think that either / both are pretty much in...

Bill

I often tie in starling hackles by the stem and really like the way the fuzzy stuff adds to the fly. Nice dressing.

Bob

Would be nice with or without the bead. From the coloring of the pic, almost looks like Golden Plover hackle.

From W. C. Stewart's book, “The Practical Angler or The Art of Trout-Fishing More Particularly Applied to Clear Water” : " Dressing a spider is a much simpler operation than dressing a fly, and therefore it is better to begin with it. Having selected a thread of gut and a hook, the next thing i...

Take a look at Cookshill's Facebook page and look at the Golden Plover skins that were available (they're all taken already). I believe that Steve Cooper may also have some snipe availabe in a limited quantity.

Hank

Now Cookshill has some Cites legal Polar Bear per an e-mail / link I received today. Check Steve Cooper's / Cookshill's Facebook site.

Bob

For those of you interested in getting snipe hackles, Cookshill just got a new batch in. Here's a Facebook link to the info:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/629159983899901/