Cleaning House
Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2021 3:28 pm
I thought I would go through my Soft Hackle inventory a few months ago. Just to take stock as to what I actually have. I was seriously mortified.
Most of the patterns had been used before , with varying degrees of success . Patterns and individual flies. There were patterns ranging from one fly to as many as a dozen. A few of the flies were tied over 30 years ago. Never to be used. It was time to cull the herd.
I friend of mine sent out a request for flies to be sent to a cause. I sent 300. I ended up sending 1200 flies to 4 other destinations.
In one of my fly boxes, I designated ones side of it to Soft Hackles. Beaded and beadless. The brunt of the patterns make up what have been successful for me the past five years. There is only 4 dozen flies. I will add a few more as there are no Partridge and Peacock, or Orange Muskrats.
Other patterns will be added as I need them. Like the Tups, and Hen Hackled Olives. Today I added a few Partridge and Grays, Yellows, and Olive. Beaded and beadless.
In my midge boxes I have another couple dozen or so Soft Hackles in sizes 18 to 24. They were not counted in the main inventory.
I am always amazed at how ugly and scraggly my soft hackles become after I place them in my fly box. Almost as amazed at how productive they are when I get them wet.
Most of the patterns had been used before , with varying degrees of success . Patterns and individual flies. There were patterns ranging from one fly to as many as a dozen. A few of the flies were tied over 30 years ago. Never to be used. It was time to cull the herd.
I friend of mine sent out a request for flies to be sent to a cause. I sent 300. I ended up sending 1200 flies to 4 other destinations.
In one of my fly boxes, I designated ones side of it to Soft Hackles. Beaded and beadless. The brunt of the patterns make up what have been successful for me the past five years. There is only 4 dozen flies. I will add a few more as there are no Partridge and Peacock, or Orange Muskrats.
Other patterns will be added as I need them. Like the Tups, and Hen Hackled Olives. Today I added a few Partridge and Grays, Yellows, and Olive. Beaded and beadless.
In my midge boxes I have another couple dozen or so Soft Hackles in sizes 18 to 24. They were not counted in the main inventory.
I am always amazed at how ugly and scraggly my soft hackles become after I place them in my fly box. Almost as amazed at how productive they are when I get them wet.
