Attn Soft Hackle Fans

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Had the pleasure of exchanging a few emails with Denny from Conranch Hackle today.

I was ordering another JV Hen Hackle --they are a fantastic product–and we got into a discussion of soft hackle patterns. I thought I would share something of great interest to us soft hackle fans:

I found a neat combo using this hackle. I am a dealer for Pearsals gossamer
silk. Alex Jackson is a friend of mine and he informed me that the color
“Jasper” is now available. I picked up a couple spools in my recent order.
Jasper is a variegated color, subtle yellow/black. Using one of the silver
colored hooks (1182) Daiichi, just make the body by wrapping on the silk,
then sparsely hackle with the JV hen hackle, whip a head and presto a real
killer. By using the silver hook one does not need to under wrap a silver
tinsel. The silk acts somehow differently in color when wet. Alex suggested
this trick to me and it actually works. :slight_smile:

I will get my items the middle of next week and will report back once I try this combo out. I am always on the look out for a better mousetrap so to speak and this sounds like a great combo

Take care.

2

Shmang,

To add to what you’ve said: If silver hooks are hard to get, or if you don’t want to add yet another hook model number to your overly stocked hook inventory, just buy some ‘silver’ or ‘aluminum’ color spray paint. Stick some hooks in and around the rim of a styrofoam cup (put some weight in the cup), or any other method, and spray paint them. Dubbed bodies usually get darker when wet but if you pre-treat hooks like this and use the right thread, the dubbed bodies will get less dark.

Allan

Allan

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Hey Allan,
What color paint for a Hendrickson?HAHA,couldnt resist! CJ