Anyone familiar with ‘widgeon flank’? I have a fly recipe for a green drake soft hackle that calls for this feather. Can someone suggest a good substitute?
not sure, but mabie teal or mallard. not exactly sure what widgon is like though.
I’d say that wood duck flank would be a closer substitute . Widgeon looks to be rather brown or chessnut in color .
Kengore: I would say that the flank feathers of a gadwall would be the closest to that of the widgeon. Also a drake shoveler is pretty close. If you want some widgeon flank feathers send me your mailing address and I will get a package of widgeon in the mail to you.
Tim
Teal or well marked Mallard flank dyed medium brown would be a very good substitute for Widgeon flank.
Later, Jim
Actually, Hooded Merganser is pretty close, but not any easier to find, as most hunters don’t shoot them. If I had any wigeon to spare I’d send you some but I’m low right now.
You probably can get Gadwall flank. The description, brown with black bars, by previous posters sounds like they may look a like.
Deezel
the reason they don’t eat them is because they taste like ****. they say the only use it is to put it in a bag with horse **** mix it up and throw out the merganser, and eat the horse ****. lol
Luke
Lovely
widgeons do have some really pretty feathers
lol JZ
I would like to see the recipe you have. Is it for a soft hackle wet fly? If so there would be lots of substitutes.
JBRW, here a link to the pattern I found that called for wigeon flank. I now have a small stash thanks to the Panman…I also have some dark hungarian partridge that looks like a resaonable substitute.