CONRANCH HACKLE

All about flies Fly Tying
1

I haven’t posted in a while but I had to let those interested know -

I just purchased 2 No.1 necks from Denny at Conranch Hackle.

The first is —well uh! – for want of a better term—kinda like red ginger/cree style but without the dark barring which has been replaced by dun barring. Georgeous!!! One of the most buggy looking necks I’ve seen in 30+ years of tying. (My wife tried to swat it when she saw it.) It has a good sweet spot and will tie plenty of 26-28’s and some true 30’s. (And he told me he just recently developed this color - I can’t wait to see a couple of generations from now.)

The second neck was a grizzly, which I feel is the most important color for what I needed the neck for, that is to tie tiny stuff.

I can’t really describe this neck and do it justice - but I’ll try.

Color - magnificient, distinct, clean barring with vivid black and white contrast

Sweet Spot - huge

Stems - soft and pliable

Barbs - Lots and lots

Sizes - This is the most amazing. The neck wil tie a good number of true 32’s.

I fell in love with the varient neck but when I looked at the griz I was flabbergasted. I have never seen a neck like it even from “m” or “W/H”

And the PRICE - $65 each plus a few bucks for shipping (which, by the way was priorty mail.)

And to top it off, Denny processes his necks and leaves the soft patches on the side - they have the same color and can be used for streamers and a bunch of other stuff.

I’ve put myself on Denny’s list for the “best Cree” he can raise for me. - I can’t wait. I’m not even going to tie with it - I’m going to mount it.

Obviously I recommend Conranch hackle extrordinarily high.

Thanks Denny!!

BOB MAYER

[This message has been edited by otterly cool (edited 02 March 2006).]

2

oc,

Denny’s feathers are exceptional! I purchased two of his JV hens to tie soft hackle patterns with. I compared the action of a JV hen to a partridge on some soft hackle flies and found that the JV hen made the fly come alive!

[This message has been edited by TyroneFly (edited 02 March 2006).]

3

oc,

Dang, the secrets out! I’ve been using Denny’s hackle for several years now and am floored everytime I take a gander at those necks and saddles. Gorgeous.

I also have some of those …I believe he called them Dree (Dun/Cree) feathers. They are truely a fantastic color. and even better, the trout seem to approve.

REE

4

Ditto for me and Conranch hackles. Excellent!!

Dr Bob

5

I purhased some hackle from Denny while I was in Spokane a few weeks ago. Great product but more importantly maybe a better person. It was neat to get the tour of his facilities and see what goes on behind the scenes. Thanks Denny. I know I will be purchasing more hackle from him in the future.

Take care everyone and cya around. Mark

6

So as log as it’s Conranch you all are OK with not seeing and handling them before purchase???

7

“So as log as it’s Conranch you all are OK with not seeing and handling them before purchase???”

ducksterman,

I have only purchased 2 JV hens from Conranch. Denny made it a point to describe exactly the 2 feathers he would send before closing the deal. Can you name any other producer that would do that? I can tell you the feathers are better than what he had described. In a word, exceptional! Denny is very nice and a trusting soul. He sent the feathers to me before I even had a chance to cut a check and mail it. Call Denny and ask him about his return policy. I would beat the policy is the customer must be 100% satisfied.

[This message has been edited by TyroneFly (edited 03 March 2006).]

8

Ducksterman,

Normally, I used to buy hackle from the fly shop I always checked each neck or saddle before purchase. Some are not what they seem.

Since I started using Conranch Hackle, all it takes is a phone call to Denny, and I know the feathers I get will be what I ordered, if not more. Denny is a fly tier and fly fisher. He knows what we want and works dang hard to give it to us at a reasonable price.

So, yes, I trust Denny to give me the very best quality feathers when I order from him.

Ron Eagle Elk (REE)

9

Ok, I’m SOLD!
I am a newbie, “flub-a-dub” tyer, but you had better believe all my hackle in the future will be from Denny. I have some left, but soon as I need some, I will call him. There have been many posts that mention Conranch & there have been posts from Denny…ALL have been nothing but “class A”!
Mike

This site’s about sharing!

10

I think I’m not sophisticated enough to be able to relate to someone over the phone what I want.
I have lots of feathers mostly bought on whims.
How would some of your typical conversations go with Denny? I think I just asked a dumb question.

11

ducksterman,

Why don’t you call him yourself and find out? I think that one telephone conversation is all it will take for most folks to place an order. If you really need to handle all of your necks before you buy them grab a plane ticket to Spokane, then you can even pick out a bird “on the hoof”.

Jeremy

12

Ducksterman: Not a dumb question…I wouldnt worry about how your conversation with Denny would go. I am relatively new to tying and it was very interesting to hear Denny talk about hackle and the differences between his and other products on the market. Denny is a great person who will not steer you wrong and is willing to spend a bit of time to help you find what you need. Just have a few ideas about what colors you are interested in and he will do everything he can to make sure you are satiusfied.

Take care everyone and cya around. Mark

13

Conranch Hackle, just how great is it?

When the 1st Regional Fish-In was held in Texas, back in 2001, Denny sent 40 capes to the Fish-In for members to look at a maybe consider a purchase. This was when Conranch Hackle was a new Sponsor of FAOL. Denny had never met me, but trusted me to handle the transitions, and return the unsold capes.

As Denny explained to me then, and what he said still holds true today…

All of the capes grades, of Conranch Hackle, are the same high quality.

The only difference between a #1, #2 or #3 grade, is the amount of usable hackle on the cape.

Not all of the Conranch chickens, measure up to the grade. Those chicken capes that do not meet the Conranch Hackle grade standards, are only sold at Fly Fishing Expo’s, where the fly tier can inspect the capes for themselves.

The chickens at Conranch Hackle, have a pedigree history, going back over 40 years. All of the colors that are available from Conranch Hackle are created by breeding, not dying.

Also the hackle stems on the feathers, will flatten, when wrapped around the hook shank, because the hackle stems are oval in shape. Something that I believe is unique to Conranch Hackle.

All my dry fly hackle, is Conranch Hackle! I still have some hen capes purchased elsewhere, that I am trying to use up, so I can purchase some Conrance JV Hen Capes, for my nymphs and soft hackle wet flies.

For you Beginning Fly Tiers, you can have top quality dry fly hackle at very reasonable cost. Conranch Hackle will split a #2 cape order with a half cape of two different colors (? grizzly/? brown, or whatever your preference). Remember all three grades have the same identical standard for hackle quality!

Conranch Hackle will even grow a chicken to your specifications of the range of hackle size for tying. Who other than Conranch offers such a deal. Conranch only sells to the buyers, never to a fly shop, or distributor.

~Parnelli

14

There are no Dumb questions.

Either by e-mail or phone we (Liz or myself) will try to get on the same page with you.

We do not want to sell you anything unles it is what you really want and or need.

We both are tiers, do not have all the answers but will work with you.

Denny & Liz

Denny
Denny@conranch.com
Co-Owner Conranch Hackles

15

I love Denny’s hackle too, and can’t wait to try some of his wet fly hackle (JV hens, etc.). Some of the easiest to use hackle I’ve tried.
Eric