Compared to those with the large collections of hackle pliers I've been somewhat restricted in the number that I have. Most of the time I use the traditional spring ones, the smaller of the two gets most use because it is perfect for the job. Only complaint is the hackle breakage. The larger ones I ...

Looking in my box of hen necks, its clear that I use both. I prefer to buy them in person so that I can check the quality and colour myself. in the past I thought I was going to get as the brochure or website described and got a different shade or the quality wasn't so good. I do like the Whiting ne...

Quick update, I took a couple of fish on this fly during a lull in the E.Dancia hatch recently. So it definitely works.

Ashley thank you, not only a good looking pattern but the handy hints on the dying. I tried some small batch Mallard drake breast feather dying and the Tumeric worked a treat. Owing to only doing a dozen feathers at a time with various concoctions I did not boil on the stove top, but nuked a small ...

That fly is perfect for my summer fishing, I was going to tye something along the same lines so I now have something to work from and just change the colour.

Have you tried any other hackle has I currently don't have any Cdl lying around?

Thanks Ashley! I appreciate the description, but I have a feeling my wife will not be happy when I raid her spice cabinet. :D (nothing surprises her any more in terms of my fly tying hobby. She already thinks I am crazy. This will just be further proof. he he he :D ) I would go for it when shes not...

Lovely and intriguing pattern. Can you tell us more about how you dyed the squirrel? Yes, no problem. I dyed a Grey Squirrel skin in the normal (at least for me). Heat some water in a pan till its boiling, at this point put the termeric in and dissolve (I do it by eye but roughly 1/3 of one of thos...

I personally think it depends on type of fly. For soft hackles, dries and such then I prefer a small head. But there are some flies such some streamers, saltwater and others where a large head for various purposes seems to be a part of style. I also think that heads on Trout and Grayling flies shoul...

Turmeric has a very old and honoured place in the dyeing catalogue. French partridge wings were recommended by Roger Fogg in his book 'A Handbook of North Country Trout Flies - 1988' for colouring with fibre tipped pens. Uncoloured I think they are a very nice hackle on any spider. A very nice spid...

Old Hat wrote:Very cool. Was the squirrel natural before you dyed it?

Yes, standard Grey Squirrel, we have lots of them around, I seem to collect rather a few so get to dye a few. Current thinking of natural dye for the natural look.