Dear all,
Thanks for all your great input. FAOL really helped me out again as always.
Actually, JeremyH is right. My brown hackles have no problem when I use them for regular parachutes or humpies. Only when I tied hackle stackers requiring hackle wraps around the very thin monofilament post did brown neck hackles, but not grizzly ones, become a problem.
However, I appreciate your comments on the general problems of brittle hackle stem and dried-out feathers. Since some of us may encounter those once in a while but regular fly tying books do not always address those practical problems, I find your suggestions are quite useful.
More input from others will be also greatly appreciated. Please, don't be shy to share your ideas.
Have a good day.
[This message has been edited by adso4 (edited 26 February 2006).]