Advice needed

[Ray Kunz]

When I watch a tying video that uses peacock herl the material looks great. When I mail order some it looks sad. I find that ordering eyes gives me a little better quality but the strands are thinner. My question is, Since I shop by mail, how do I access the better grade stuff? A second question relates to the newer Whiting Brahma Hen hackles. All of my necks and saddles from Whiting are beautifully trimmed with great care. The Brahma series of hen skins are really sad .The workmanship in dressing them out is pitiful. Are these imported from overseas like the other $5 hen necks we see coming from the orient or are they really a newer domestic line being worked on?

[Byron haugh]

Ray,
I would never buy the strung peacock. Best to order the whole feather. Obviously best to pick it out in person. There are shops which you can call and describe the attributes you want before placing your order. They will usually pick something out that will meet your needs or tell you they don't have any.
I know what you mean, though.

[NJTroutbum]

Ray,

Im a huge fan of the Brahma line. Are you getting just a neck when ordering? Or the skin?

[Ray Kunz]

In addition, the advertising is very confusing. the pics always show nicely variegated feathers as you'd expect but never show the plain neck feathers that you see in folks tying Youtubes. Also it seems that there many dyed colors of the full back with the attached "bou" but no pics of a simple neck or saddle. Whiting should really get his act together. I'd still like to know why they are all dressed out so poorly.

[NJTroutbum]

I have 4-5 necks all with bou attached. They are all dressed nice? I have not bought one for about a year, but they are all top quality. Is this more recent?

[AllenOK]

Ray, if I remember right, a couple years ago ScottP mentioned in one of his posts that he steams his herl before tying.

[whatfly]

Typically I only use strung herl, because feathers are too difficult to store and transport. I settled on Feather Craft in St. Louis as a source, and I've never been disappointed with the quality of their strung herl. They have both standard and a smaller size (which in my opinion is less useful). While you can steam or use hair conditioner on your herl, considering the price I've never considered it worth the effort. I do not tie presentation flies, so I do not bother with herl from the feather for the most part.

Have not tried the Brahma capes, but the Whiting Brahma saddles have the same fit and finish as all the other Whiting products I have, which is to say excellent. Perhaps it was your source? The saddles I have are the ones without the chickabou, so it may be just the difference in the cut. If you do not like the presentation, I would recommend that you try another source, if you can find one.

[Chuck441]

+1 for FeatherCraft. Always get first class materials, Including herl.

Chuck

[NJTroutbum]

It helps to steam herl...especially ostrich which really seems to flatten in storage. But quality herl is hard to come by. As is the primary long-fibered feathers of a pheasant tail.

[Joe Billingsley]

I've always steamed peacock herl, too. Al and Gretchen Beatty say steaming peacock "brings it back to life." It does make it look much, much better.

Joe