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Cape? Saddle?
Since I'm still fairly new to the tying side of this great sport, I have some questions about feathers...
* What's the main differences between capes and saddles,
* what type of feathers do you get from each one,
* what specific qualities would help one choose between them (aside from personal preference)?
I looked in the basic fly tying section from the main menu and didn't see anything about them there.
Right now I get most of my hair and feathers from the farmyard, craft store and the local hunters left-overs (still on the prowl for turkey).
Most of the time I'm geographically forced to fish warm water (near Kansas City, MO), mostly crappie, gills and seeds (bass are still elusive). From my experience around here, a fly without hackle might just as well be a worm.
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There's almost nothin' wrong with the first lie, it's the weight of all the others holdin' it up that gets ya'! - Tim
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Mo,
When I first started out,I made the misinfourmed decision's of buying saddles...Lots of saddles..which I RARELY use....to start out go with Capes.....if on a budget as I am..and can't get the #1/Gold grades...I'd suggest Cabela's Capes..the ones that are from whiting,$20.00 a pop...if however you can go it a bit higher...Conranch...is THE way to go..you get more than "just" a Cape...you get darn near the whole skin with these..( as I understand it, The saddles are "attached" on atleast their hen capes )..not sure as to cock capes....really wish I could afford to splurge and indulge in them...
Edit ( this is not to say I feel my tying or my flies are lackluster)...as the afore mentioned Cabela's Capes are ..."are" Genitic Capes....and better than most available capes of just ten years ago,It has been hypothesized, That now-a-days,Genetic breeding has gotten to a point. To where almost all useable spade feathers have been breed out of those high grade necks anyway..so maybe I'm not as bad off as some may think...
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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill
[This message has been edited by billknepp (edited 14 July 2005).]
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Saddles are great if you are looking for quick tying. I like capes because I will use different necks to blend the colors, saddles also have thicker hackle fibers and this can change the look and when mixed with a cap sometimes do not have the correct look. Now for something like stimulators saddles are great along with bugger. For a normal dry fly capes are the way to go. I do like to use saddles for things like palmered bodies.
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MO -- I wouldn't let being geographically-forced into warmwater species get you to a point of jumping off a bridge with a noose around your neck. There is some darned good fishing in the species you mentioned and a lot more good fishing in the warmwater species you didn't. I'd invite you to the warmwater site just up the street to hear what some of us do about catching a vast variety of species with an even broader array of flies and techniques. I've done both, and although I'm also "geographically forced" into warmwater fishing, I'd have to say I'm quite happy that is the case. JGW
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MOturkE,
The kind and size of flies you want to tie will determine the best type of hackle.
Since you are a new at it and the species you mentioned seeking, I would guess that you are not going to be tying small dry flies. A rooster cape would probably not be as useful to you as a saddle.
Even better, if you are going to be in need of softer hackle then, as a few others mentioned, a mature hen skin from Conranch will give you a good variety of feathers (it does contain cape, saddle, and many other usefull feathers) and will suit the kind of flies that will be usefull in your waters.
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Joe
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Thanks heaps everybody... This info helps a lot!
White43- I enjoy the warm water and I only jump off bridges after someone else does...(lol) but, I do envy the folks with running water, sometimes. Also, I usually look at the warm water board first thing everyday.
I'm really enjoying this site and I commend JC and LF for the resource they've created for the world!
Tim
[This message has been edited by MOturkE (edited 15 July 2005).]
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White43,
Wish I could swap local's with you any day!......the land of 10,000 lakes would suit me fine.and all lakes have to be fed by a river or stream of some kind,I know it gets awful cold out there,There has gotta be some trout water near you....Somewhere!
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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best
"Wish ya great fishing"
Bill
