Hackle Length on Parachutes/Spinners...............

[Byron haugh]

I was under the weather for a couple of weeks and didn't feel up to tying. So, I spent a lot of time viewing tying videos on Youtube and other media.

One of the tiers I enjoy watching and listening to is Kelly Galloup of Slide Inn on the Madison. He's really a "down-to-earth" tier/fisher. In one of his videos, he talks about hackle. While discussing the various types (neck, saddles,dry,wet, etc.) he got off on a bit of an interesting tangent. He discussed that he feels present day tiers use hackle which is shorter than should be used. He even went so far as to say that he often uses at least one and sometimes 2 sizes larger hackle than is called for given current gauges and size proportions.

Anyway, he stressed that it is more important (to him, at least) in parachutes and spinner patterns. I find that another tier I really admire (Bob Jacklin of West Yellowstone) seems to do the same. I have had such great success with his para-spinner pattern which does have "oversized hackle", that I had started doing the same thing even before watching Kelly Galloup's video.

Wonder what other tiers think of this.

PS, Galloup even referred to the old "Variant" dry fly patterns which used over-sized hackle for classic tied dries.


my little Rusty Spinner

[Chuck441]

Hope you're feeling better now, Byron. Two ideas about "oversize" hackles on parachute flies. First- the legs of some duns are spread out rather far. Second and, to me, the most important reason: many parachutes are tied with dubbed bodies, that are then treated to be water repellant. This makes them sit up on, rather than in, the surface film (at least until a trout slimes it up!). This, along with the slight, but important weight of the wing and hackle on top of the body, causes the fly to be a bit top-heavy. Using larger hackles helps to stabilize the fly. Just my $0.02, but I've done tests in dishes of water to help pass the winter months (I don't live in Hawaii!).

Chuck

[Byron haugh]

Thanks Chuck,
I notice on most commercially tied parachutes, for example, the hackling is quite short and tight.

[Byron haugh]

I don't personally tie/use Catskill style or Variant style flies anymore, but here is an example of the "Variant" Kelly Galloup referred to. It is the Art Flick style Gray/Grey Fox Variant tied by someone (not sure whom):

[NJTroutbum]

I find that 2 sizes larger on spinners is about right. If you look at the BWO spinner post, you will see an example of a #18 shank hook, which is tied with #14 hackle.. I tie and fish catskill variants quite a bit, and as posted by Byron, they are very efective. Commercially, i agree. They are tied too small.

[whatfly]

Which catches more fish? You have your answer.