To be honest, for the way I fish, I prefer a #2 or #3 neck. I like to fish a fairly generic pattern, sometimes dry, sometimes damp, often on the same cast. The really top quality hackles are actually sometimes too stiff for the way I like to tie and fish my flies.
Like TroutBum said, even a poor genetic hackle is a joy compared to the indian necks with which I learned. BUt they did somehow manage to catch fish back in the day.
Reply With Quote