Originally Posted by
flyguy66
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Here's the thing, Ed: For the hackles to flair (abduct), a soft hackle must be at a true dead drift in the water or suspended in the surface film. The slightest variance moves the hackles back and forth - toward the eye or shank of the hook. This is what the soft hackle so effective. This is what gives it "life." This breathing gills or moving legs motion is almost always undetectable to any observation by the naked human eye, but it is occurring even when the hackles seem to be "plastered to the body of the fly." The hackles form a long arch down the side of the fly and undulate in and out as water friction moves them ever so delicately. Don't ask me why fish see this instantly and miss that big ole hook sticking the end of the bug they're about to eat! I have no clue. But they do it all the time. It has something to do with the way that sub-pea-sized brain is wired I imagine. It is programmed to do about 3 things I guess: eat, procreate, and avoid natural predators. Fish hooks sticking out of a bug's butt or bait fish's belly and tail just doesn't register as a threat, I guess. That's all I can figure. It's sort of the opposite of why they think a chartreuse spinner bait looks like food: beats me!