Collins Hackle raises his birds to have just the sizes you need. I talked to him at a show this year and that is what he told me. Good prices too.
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Collins Hackle raises his birds to have just the sizes you need. I talked to him at a show this year and that is what he told me. Good prices too.
Thanks for adding the "Rest of the Story" It is real hard for people to answer a question when someone dosen't tell everything up front.
If you tie a lot of flies buy the whole saddle. You sure can't lose anything by doing so. If you buy it and you figure you have to much post here and see if someone will trade you for half or quarter of another color. Hackle never goes to waste unless the bugs get it.
I am just guessing here but a half of a whiting saddle will tie in the neighbor hood of 1200 flies. That is just a guess on my part but I bet it is short. You tie that much? If so buy the whole saddle.
You can still size your hackle the same way as I gave above no matter the length of the shank of the hook. Ron
Hi Mike.....yea, you kinda left that "1/2 or whole?" thing out of your original post. So if you are considering a whole saddle, why not get a 1/2 cape and 1/2 saddle? Best of both worlds. As Ron said, whatever you don't use you can sell or trade for other stuff. I'm sure there are lots of midge tyers that would love to buy just the top of the cape with all the tiny hackles on it. Have fun whatever you decide!.....Jason
[This message has been edited by Feenom (edited 18 March 2005).]
The other 1/2 of the story got left out becuase I had to go to bed...it was almost 10 p.m. on the east coast when I posted and I have to wake up at 6:30 to go to school. I am probably gonna need atleast like 400 flies from this saddle...could I get that from a 1/2...I have never bought a 1/2 before.
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"GET THE DRIFT?"
If folks have in between sizes they don't use or need I'm on a TIGHT budget do to workers comp cutting my disabilty back off. I'll pay for all anyone doesn't want.Even if I have to write you an IOU. Matt
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To each there own !
Mike- Yes with ease. Ron
Ron...I meant about 400 flies for this summer...it would be nice to have some more. How many flies do you think a 1/2 Gold could tie?
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"GET THE DRIFT?"
[This message has been edited by Mike Murgida (edited 19 March 2005).]
Sorry Mike, I didn't realize that you have done some tying. No offense intended. Reading over your initial post, reminded my of one more piece of advice I would like to pass on. My mail order supplier has told me a couple of times not to waste my money on Gold grade capes or saddle. He has suggested buying the Silver grade or even Bronze when I have asked him about the "most bang for the buck." 8T
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You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it's a real short camping season.
Hi Mike,
According to the back of one of my Whiting Saddles, It states that a full Bronze will tie a minimum of 500, Silver - 800, Gold - 1,100, and a Platinum - 1,500 flies.
RonMT, You stated that you could never understand why people go one size larger for parachutes. I did an experiment several years ago and the longer hackled parachutes caught way more fish than the shorter hackled version in every case. Fish also like longer rubber legs on patterns like Turck's Tarantula's. They like longer CDC on patterns like the CDC and Elk. I don't tie any parachute hackle shorter than at least to the bend of the hook and then some.
Regards,
Mark
Mark while I might agree with you on rubber legs I can not agree with the other flies. That is just my opinion after almost 40 years of guiding in Idaho and Montana on some of the toughest spring creeks and tailwaters in the country. And yes I have used larger hackle on parachute flies. I think it is more a matter of how you present the fly than how long the hackle is. I also think a hackle sized properly makes a parachute fly look much better. But everything we as fishermen do is what "WE PRESEVE" as an individual. So to each there own. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif Ron