Feather and hackle types and hows

[melk]

Hi,
I figure someone must have a page or a source on how to identify feathers - types, uses, etc - aand hackle. I have lots of books but each one has a little on this. Any place that has a great listing/description of what things are used for, which areas to use etc.
Thanks very much.
Mike

[Normand]

feathers for soft hackles

http://www.mwflytying.com/materials/u_soft_hackle.html

understanding feathers

http://www.mwflytying.com/materials/feathers.html

[kglissmeyer]

Good stuff Normand.

Kelly.

[EdD]

Capes come from the back of the head and neck.
Saddles come from the back of the bird.
Both are hackles (e.g. hackle capes, saddle hackles).
Dry fly grade hackles come from rooster, typically those bred specially for providing feathers to fly tyers.
Hens produce wet fly grade hackles. Hen cape feather are used my many for wings.
Capes produce a greater diversity of sizes than capes.
Saddle hackles might allow multiple flies per feather because the hackles are so much longer.
Capes tend to cost more than saddles. The greater diversity of feather sizes means that the average tyer might find that a cape is a better buy because it takes a while to use all of the feathers and one cape satisfies most needs for that color. With saddles, the size range is smaller and so more than one saddle might need to be purchased. Off-setting that is the fact that one can often buy half or quarter saddles and thus one might be able to buy 3 quarter-saddles for the price of one cape of the same color and grade.

Try getting in touch with a local club or shop and see what they have to offer, information-wise. The fact is that there is a vast amount to learn in this hobby/addiction. That's one of the reasons that it is so absorbing.


Ed

[LadyFisher]

You could go to the Fly Fishing 101 and look for an article by Liz Conrad on:
What is Hackle?

[narcodog]

Here are a couple of books, "The Book Of the Hackle" Frank Elder this is the bible, even Whiting goes by these descriptions.

"Fly Tying Materials" Eric Leiser

[Clay]

I've always enjoyed listening to Dr. Thomas Whiting of Whiting Farms speak about hackle: http://www.askaboutflyfishing.com/sp...mas/thomas.cfm

You can listen with your computer or download onto your Ipod or MP3 player.

[melk]

Thanks all! I have the Leiser book and it just got stored in the wrong place. I'll check out all the other places too!!
Thanks,
Mike