It'll be a something Polish. I have seen a few SIlver Polish and they has black tips to the "poofy" head feathers. I'd assume that that thing is from the same sorta chicken...

Here is most of my collection - have another couple of shelves on another book case as well (although not too many are about soft hackles etc.. )

tis a good book. My litle 2nd edn copy I picked up in a little dusty 2nd hand shop for a fiver.. Cutcliffe's one next to it is also a good read.

a few others not in shot but these are my go to's...

Nice Hans.

Load some on the NZ site. I know a few of the fellas there will appreciate these.

The PTN nymph with a hare's ear fur thorax as per the top fly has been a firm favourite in NZ for many many years. A great fish taker. A flash wingcase of mylar is also a popular variation.

Heres the Black Gnat Blue Twist: A variation of mine of an old New Zealand Pattern: Dean's Black Gnat Silver twist. Body is blue lurex twisted with osrich herl. Black hackle. Sizes 10 - 14. The high country blowfly down here is a fat thing with a very distinctive almost metallic blue body... Its a g...

Nice. For my eye the flymph is the one. I use a LOT of Indian necks. I think they are great. Was lucky to pick up about 3 dozen at a shop closing sale about 20 yrs ago for a coupla bucks each. Mainly reds and browns and shades thereof with a few blacks. The odd varient. Dyed some creams into olive a...

LOL I think Chris DePlato from over on the Streamer List has his eyes on them as well!

Never really give the hook colour a thought. As you say, the fish are keying in on something else so in my mind likely largely irrelevant