What color of dry fly hackle is more commonly used or has more uses? Which color matches more trout stream insects? Does it matter? http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
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"Fly Fishing Can Solve Any Problem"
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What color of dry fly hackle is more commonly used or has more uses? Which color matches more trout stream insects? Does it matter? http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
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"Fly Fishing Can Solve Any Problem"
To me it doesn't matter. I use only a little bit of hackle and it is hard to tell the difference. Another thing, one persons Light Dun may be another's Medium Dun. If I am buying I always go with the Medium now.
Okay...I'm talking about Whiting Dry Fly Hackle here in particular.
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
I use so little now that I only buy the 100's and I still only buy Medium. I have so much dark that I have not had an opertunity to buy any, but Light, never. Oh yeah, around my neck of the woods, the medium matches more bugs than any other. The Dark matches a lot of the midges. Another thing. Eric Austin is from Ohio and he would know what is best. He is the expert of all experts and you can take my word for that. He will probably be on soon.
[This message has been edited by Pats Man (edited 22 February 2005).]
Pats Man...not much trout action in Ohio...1 stream http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/biggrin.gif. I am talking generally in the Eastern US.
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
Hi Stonefly......are you talking natural or dyed? The Whiting dyed medium dun will cover alot more flys than the light. Being in between the light and dark it will suffice as either one. The "natural" duns need to be looked at in person as they vary alot.
Jason
Feenom, That is very true. With the Naturals you have to look at both sides.
Stone, you must be talking about the Mad. Boy Eric did very well last fall on the mad with tiny flies.
Dyed...I have one packet of the Dyed Light 100s and another of the the Dyed Medium 100s and the Light looks darker *Help* Also looked at the color chart in my Cabelas Catalouge and (at least to me) the light does look the same if not darker...
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
[This message has been edited by Stonefly Nymph (edited 22 February 2005).]
Whiting's Medium dun would be what I recommend if you *had* to chose. It's a tad dark for sulphurs, but it will pass. The natural barred dun is nice for sulphurs but I feel it's too light for the others.
In my eye, the dyed medium dun is too "blue" but it is a good happy shade for both BWO's, sulphurs and "April Grays."
I love the quality...I just wish the Dr. would breed some more true dun chickens! http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
Pats Man...no I don't fish the Mad too much...I'm talking about Clearfork, which is the only trout stream with in 1.5 hours of me...the Mad is about 3 hours away and I rather fish in a different state for that much time driving.
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
[This message has been edited by Stonefly Nymph (edited 22 February 2005).]
This is basically what I am gonna be tying...BWO, Sulphurs, Baetis, basically everything that is on the Hatch Chart on the Catskills Fish In Page. While I am on the topic, what would you buy, a half silver grade cape at $32 or a half gold grade saddle at $34.50 (in relation to those insects(size) I will be wishing to copy).
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
Well here is my two cents. I would buy the medium Dun in the saddle if I were you. Then I would get a pack of the 100's in Med Dun in the small sizes. You would have them covered with those. You will not get anywere near the number of flies out of the neck as you will the saddles. Most of the flies that you want to tie will be of a Medium Dun shade. Then if you want some light Dun I would see if someone on this baord would trade a few saddles with you. Problem solved. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif Ron
Great solution Ron LOL
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
Stonefly:
A full silver will get you many. many, many flies down to #24 with no issues. A silver 1/2 will get you....well http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif.
You'd most likely be fine with a Bronze. Usually the same size ranges, just less of them.
I just tied 20 dozen BWO's in the #20 and #18 sizes...I used a single silver cape and I have some left. Many of the feathers gave me two flies (I tie in at front..wrap back and wrap forward again.).
Stonefly, A dark medium dun or a light dark dun in natural is what you need. Or perhaps one of each and you can blend them to get the color you need.Natural dun is beautiful and lifelike.Dyed dun is nice but it's a not the same thing.
take care, Jim
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[url=http://www.Jimsflyco.com:6ede8]www.Jimsflyco.com[/url:6ede8]
Ok...Medium Dun. Dyed or Natural?
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
Stonefly.....If the natural is the color and quality you are looking for, then by all means....go for it! Like Jim said, the naturals just look better. They have a kind of transluscent quality. Good luck!...Jason
In truth the fish just do not care if it is a dyed hackle or the real thing. I have dyed many necks over the years to come up with the right color and the fish never seemed to mind a bit. If you are real picky then go ahead and buy the natural saddles or neck but in the real world it just dosen't matter to the fish. Ron
Ron, If you had the choice beteen dyed and natural grey dun , all things being the same, which would you choose?
Take care, Jim
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[url=http://www.Jimsflyco.com:6e104]www.Jimsflyco.com[/url:6e104]
Jim, I know I am not Ron but I would take dyed over natural any day. Same shade on both sides of the feather. Sorry for butting in.
Jim Like I said it just dosen't matter to me or the fish. If I can get a good buy on a natural that is fine if I get a better buy on the dyed I would take that. Yes I have many natural dun capes and yes they are real pretty but the fish sure don't care and that is what counts in my book. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif
I should also add that I use saddles for 90 percent of my tying. Saves time and I get a lot more hackle per size off of one saddle compared to capes. I buy the saddles to size for what I need them for. I have saddles from size #6's to size #24's in several colors and several of each saddle size. I like them because I do not have to pick up hackle pliers until I am on the last fly the saddle will tie. That saves lots of time.
There isn't many materials used for fly tying that are prettier than a beautiful natural cape. But that does not mean there isn't something that is better to use. Or that a dyed color will not work just as well on the fish. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif Ron
For a $2.50 difference I would get the half Gold cape. For BWO's and other small patterns you will get a lot more small feathers.
Ron, So I take it then you would choose
the natural,all things being the same.
Jim
No Jim I would choose the cheapest. I tie for a living and every penny counts. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif Ron
Now...after looking at the Whiting Natural Dun...doesn't it look to be quite light in color?
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
Don't know were you looked at them but they come in different shades of Dun. You may have just seen a light one? I have seen them in about every shade of Dun you can think of. I have seen Whiting Duns so dark you would think they were almost black in color. Just keeping looking you will find a good medium color and if you can't let me know and I will see about getting one for you from a local shop. I get nothing for doing it but knowing that you got what you want. Ron
This may be a good time to ask...
Unless forced [for whatever reason] to order a cape would you say don't buy one unless you can inspect it???
These are just few of them many problems I face so I think it will take a while for me to make a decision of what hackle to buy LOL...
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"Why not fish a dry fly?"
ducksterman- I never buy a cape or saddle if I can not see it first unless I buy it from a few friends in this business that I have done a lot of business with. I trust there choice and they know what I expect in hackle when I tell them what I am looking for. Hackle is not a cheap purchase I suggest that you go through a good shop that you trust. I know I have said this before but Chris Helms is a greaat place to get things from if you are not sure of what you want. Just call him and he will do everything in his power to see that you get what you are looing for. Good man for sure. There are others that I would trust like Fly Fishers Paradise in PA, The Fly Fishers in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a few others that I have had good service from. I am sure there are many others and some of them are on this site.
To me it is very important to get what I want the first time around. I may have a large order to do and do not have the time to return things and wait for another order to get here. I get nothing for this information. Ron
Ron, I can appreciate the price point, price can be a deciding factor , especially when tying for a living. Again,all things being the same ie: overall color, quality and PRICE, which would you chose, natural or dyed dun?
A simple question, a simple answer no?
Stonefly, When dealing with a medium natural dun I ask for dark medium grey dun and light dark grey dun , I'm really fussy about color and will return if it 's not what I ordered.Also as Pats Man stated the backside of natural dun is typically lighter than the front. The natural dark dun that is almost black when used is a lot lighter when used in a fly.
Any dealer worth his salt would allow returns of hackle that dosen't satisfy his customer needs, as long as it hadn't been tampered with. Special order/ colors might be a diffrent story, but this typically is resolved with time. But off the shelf stuff , there should be no problems.
Take care, Jim
[This message has been edited by Jim Slattery (edited 24 February 2005).]
[This message has been edited by Jim Slattery (edited 24 February 2005).]
Jim my simple answer is that if I am tying Catskill flies for a plate I will try and tie with natural dun. But for any other tying it just does not matter to me. I use what I have or what I can get for the best price. That is as simple as I can get. Ron
Can one more party throw in their 2 cents worth? That's why I buy my hackle exclusively from Denny. I tell him what I want and if I can't handle it personally before I buy it, he gets me exactly what I want. Never fails me. I know you're talking about Whiting products, but I had to throw Denny's product in the mix here. And to copy tyeflies, this comes with the usual disclaimers. Ron.. I have one for you. I believe you mentioned you have about all the colors of dun. I bought a chocolate dun variant from Denny I am almost afraid to use, it's just that pretty of a neck.
Mike
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There is no greater fan of flyfishing than the worm.
Patrick McManus
[This message has been edited by maddog48 (edited 25 February 2005).]
Jim,
All things being equal I'd go natural.