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I recently acquired a hen cape and, I'm not too sure as to what sort of flies call for the feathers. I've tried to wrap them like normal hackle, but it is extremly webby and looks just horrible. Are they made to be tied on whole without wrapping, or am I just doing it wrong? Thanks for any help-
- David
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Game fish are too valuable to only be caught once.
-Lee Wulff
i use them for wooly buggers, can also be used for soft hackles, wet flies and wings for dry flies
he hit it. always use hen for your hackle tip wings...
also good for wings on streamers and legs on nymphs.
Many folks confuse hen necks/capes with hen backs/saddles. Unlike roosters, hen neck feathers tend to be longer and more pointed than hen saddles. The hen saddle feather are usually more webby than the neck and very rounded at the tips. Look at the hen sets on Denny Conrad's Web site and you will see the difference.
So, assuming you have a hen neck/cape, then I use these feathers for small woolly buggers, such as size 14 - size 10.
I have also used them for small Matukas.
For my money, hen saddles/back feathers are good for softhackle collars.
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Peter F
www.fishingwithflies.com
pfrailey@hotmail.com
Flytier,
As the guys mentioned above they can be used in a variety of ways. One of my favorites is to use the the hackles for soft wing collars on nymphs. Hold the feather in your hand and strip off all the hackle on the right side of the stem. At the base cut off about 1/4 inch of the stem, then snip about 3 hackles, then tie in a make a couple of wraps. Works good for me and I hope it will for you also. Keep tying.
[This message has been edited by gqualls (edited 20 January 2006).]