FLYMPH FORUM

Hen pheasant breast feathers are the standard feather for many of the Japanese tenkara flies.

While roadkill's feathers look like they're from the wing, as Mike indicated, the ones in your photo look like they are from the upper breast right where it joins the neck.

And while all hen pheasant feathers have generally the same markings, some skins are much lighter than others. Also, some come with wings but no tail, and some with the tail but no wings, you can also get the wings or the tail separately.

IronBlue wrote:Mike,
This is great. Packed with useful information. I was especially interested to read that you found it in recipes for March Brown Spiders. Coincidentally I have been using these for some trial designs of a March Brown Dun Flymph which, in photos of the real insect, shows a wing mottled with brown patches. I just found a few dozen of these wing coverts in an unmarked glassine envelope, and liked their look and size. As you can tell, I am relatively new to this. I appreciate the support. There's a lot to learn. Wish I didn't have to work, and could tie flies all day.

Indeed, it takes time to learn a lot of things. It can often be difficult to identify single feathers from particular birds, but there is no doubt in this case. As I wrote, these feathers are not often mentioned in the various literature on patterns, but one can dress quite a large range of flies and spiders using them. They also dye well should one wish to do so. Personally I like various mottled feathers for various flies where they are appropriate and often use them in preference to single coloured feathers. In my opinion and experience they are often more effective.

TL
MC

i checked again, and did find some virtually identical. i've got two complete skins and one set of just wings. Found feathers that did match up very well. There's a lot of size variety and markings variations as well. And as Chris shows, the difference between light and dark skins can be quite remarkable. That seems to hold true for a lot of birds, depending on where exactly they come from, and not just the male/female thing.
i was diggin' thru my big tub of game bird skins today, and found a few really nice items. One of which, is a Hung. skin that is very dark.....definately undyed but looks as if it's chocolate.....it's gorgeous. Clean forgot i had it.....but i pulled it out to use, PRONTO!
i gotta get to thinkin' bout somethin' else, or i'll be sneakin' into the fly shop again.......lmao.....and now's not a good time for that. Who'da-ever-thunk fly shops (materials), could turn into a "Jones".....lmao again. All good things.....and "IT WON'T BE LONG NOW!" Somerset! hehehehehehehe.....and i been stashin' cash, (for those times when a CC won't work), little by little. Already got my order with Mike Hogue in. We hookin' up on set-up day.

Mark - You're incorrigible!!!

Yeah and like Travolta said in the movie, "aint it cool?"