Coq-De-Leon

[Andres Touceda]

Andres,

I believe what LadyFisher was saying was, the wonderful color in the Spanish feathers is a result of the birds living in and eating some of the local dirt. The color differences are remarkable.

REE

Ron I think more about the Spanish gentelman?s joke. Of course local dirt could have its influence in meat taste and in egg colour but I have many doubts about its influence in "la penca" (little spots on feathers), or in feathers in general.

If you have looked the link I sent, You would have observed that there are a lot of different colors on those feathers: white, red, black, yellow, browns, etc. All coqs live in the same area eating the same things, so if food was responsible of feather appearance, all would have the same type of feather. Anyway, a "gentelman?s" joke.

Coqs de Le?n are the result of a natural evolution, so the explanation should be in genetic factors. On the other hand there is a myth about the particular environment where they live that makes impossible to raise them in another place. This seems to be real as many people have tried to raise them in different places in Spain but with negative results. They even took adult coqs to realise after some seasons that feather qualities as color or shyness have been lost. Up to what I know, nobody knows the reason for that.

Some eggs have been send to USA, and genetic work on them could achieve positive results in the future, but I am afraid they will also have to reproduce the environment where coqs live.

Apart from feathers being used to tie wet flies they are also used to tie wings on may flies or wings on caddys. (as I said in a previous thread, I will not go fishing without my caddys box full of coq de Leon patterns ).

[Hans Weilenmann]

I also have both feathers, but the reason for my post was really to ask the question "how can Whitings call their product Coq-De-Leon?" It is not the same product at all.

Does not Coq de Leon denote the breed, and Coq de Leon feathers plumage taken from said breed?

Cheers,
Hans W

[mickporter]

Does not Coq de Leon denote the breed, and Coq de Leon feathers plumage taken from said breed?

Cheers,
Hans W

Not sure if its the breed or the location which has developed the colours due to selective breeding there. This is a good article. http://www.flyfishinghistory.com/coq_de_leon.htm

Maybe Whitings have obtained some birds from that region I don't know.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Maybe Whitings have obtained some birds from that region I don't know.

Mick,

Quoting from the Whiting Farms web site:

"Whiting Farms is the only breeder of Coq de Leon with original bird stock from the Leon district of Spain."

Cheers,
Hans W

[Andres Touceda]

Thank you Micke for the article. Alejandro is a notorius and a very well documented fly fisherman.

As far as I know, Whiting had CDL eggs. The problem is to obtain the same quallity of feather, the same problem they have in other regions in Spain.

Andres T.

[ducksterman]

I really think Whiting is off base on this one....misleading though I suppose technically correct....it causes

[mickporter]

I really think Whiting is off base on this one....misleading though I suppose technically correct....it causes

Yes I think so too. What they are supplying is not anywhere near the same product as a genuine CDL feather from Leon.

[DShock]

March Brown Wingless Wet (Image): http://www.danica.com/flytier/hweile...l_squirrel.jpg
By Hans Weilenmann

Doug

[JohnScott]

I think it is misleading to say that Whiting is being misleading.

I first heard about CDL from one of the best tiers in our region - Bruce Staples - and he was referring to the Whiting CDL tailing packs and capes.

If you haven't heard of Bruce, check out the link. Note the comments about the author.

http://www.amatobooks.com/mm5/mercha...Category_Code=

There may be some history to the Spanish version of CDL that is distinctly different than the American version, but that doesn't make Whiting's claims misleading. I for one am glad that I found the Whiting version. I can afford it. It has made for some very interesting and productive flies.

If Whiting called their version something else, I'd refer to it by that name. But so what, except for maybe the reaction of some purists to making a good feather available to a wider market ??

John

[mickporter]

I think it is misleading to say that Whiting is being misleading.

I first heard about CDL from one of the best tiers in our region - Bruce Staples - and he was referring to the Whiting CDL tailing packs and capes.

If you haven't heard of Bruce, check out the link. Note the comments about the author.

http://www.amatobooks.com/mm5/mercha...Category_Code=

There may be some history to the Spanish version of CDL that is distinctly different than the American version, but that doesn't make Whiting's claims misleading. I for one am glad that I found the Whiting version. I can afford it. It has made for some very interesting and productive flies.

If Whiting called their version something else, I'd refer to it by that name. But so what, except for maybe the reaction of some purists to making a good feather available to a wider market ??

John

Yes I take your point John except for the bit about making a good feather available to a wider market. I have no doubts whatsoever that Whitings feathers are great. I have a few CDL capes and saddles myself. But its a different feather completely, and I think its this which is certainly confusing me.....