Which do you prefer for hackling? It’s my understanding that one can hackle two or three flies with saddle. Premium quality neck hackle has come a long way (for the better) since the ones imported from India and China. Does the stem on saddle get thicker as you get to the base end?
As a relatively new tyier I found this audio program done by the head of Whiting Farms extremely informative: http://www.askaboutflyfishing.com/speakers/thomas/thomas.cfm
You can listen to it on your IPod or you can listen to it on your computer. I downloaded it on my IPod.
fritz, seriously, consider calling Denny Conrad and ask about these things. He’s a great guy and will be most willing to answer anything. And because he raises the very best hackle, he was selected to be a sponsor on FAOL. 
A good quality saddle will cover most needs.
The length of the fibres is equal on the whole length of the feather, enablig to tie up to 4 or 5 flies of the same size with one feather.
The limitation is in the size you want to tie.
Saddles rarely go smaller than size 18.
Should you want to go smaller than that a neck is required imho.
The so called Chinese or India skins are a waste of money.
Try to get a good quality like Umqua or Whiting,
worth every dime.
Cheers, Hans
fritz:
I don’t know if this is a fact but it APPEARS to me that saddle hackle has thicker/heavier fibers than neck hackle.
For that reason I prefer neck hackle when tying classic patterns like Catskill dries. I just think it looks better. For everything else I use saddles.
Fritz,
Although I’m new to the FAOL BB, I must agree with Mr Castwell’s comment about calling or eamiling Denny at Conranch. When I started tying Denny really helped me unravel the mystery of hooks and hackle. He is a great guy and a wealth of information, that and his hackle is the best you can get.
Tight Lines
Marcus
Just curious about the hackle quality issue. The number of little fuzzy thingies and the attributes of the quill (stem) are very important. Why settle for average when you can go all the way up to Conranch quality, for less money?
i dont think that the cheap indian or chinese hackles are a waste, it really depends on what your tying. I fish mainly still waters and i prefer flys that stick right in or just below the surface film. Softer webby feathers are great way to achieve this.
Fritz-
What sizes and patterns would you like to tie? And approximately how many do you plan on tying over the next few months? That might help give specific recommendations for you. Depending on what you’re tying the “best” in terms of cost and type of saddle or cape could be very different. There are a ton of options, but the “best” one for you will be a bit different from the “best” one for the next guy if he/she is tying different things.
Both saddles and capes have their advantages for some things. Capes tend to have a wider range of sizes (barb lengths for different hook sizes) at least 12-18 with higher grades often having longer feathers (more flies per feather) and/or going into smaller sizes. Saddles might be a bit easier to work with-- longer feathers (for several flies per feather), thinner more flexible stems, but tend to be strong in 2 or 3 sizes with a scattering of smaller and larger. Higher grades of saddles will typically have longer feathers and will tie more flies per feather, but in the same narrower size range.
More expensive grades 1 and 2 (or Silver and Gold) can be great for a production tyer that wants to squeeze a lot of flies out of a cape or saddle to lower the cost per fly. But they may be completely unnecessary for someone that is looking to start out with a bunch of different colors and is not looking to tie really small stuff (in the 20’s) and will be cranking out fewer flies over the course of a year. A few Grade 3’s (or Bronze or Pro) in different colors might be a better choice for the same bucks, or less, than one primo grade.
Like others have said, you can’t go wrong with giving Denny a call. He will make sure you get what you need for what you’re tying.
peregrines
Hareline has Wo0lly Bugger Saddles that I use, and haven’t anything better for the money.
Here is a link to a great article on what is hackle by Liz Conrad, Denny’s daughter. http://www.conranch.com/hackle_article.html
A couple years back I was looking to tie some soft hackle flies. I started a post and Denny replied with using JV Hen as a great hackle for my needs. I bought two hens, black and brown. Excellent quality and real affordable. Denny shipped the same day without me sending the money in first. He said let the feathers and the money pass in the mail.
When I had a pest infestation in my tying materials Denny once again came to my rescue and I was able to salvage all my infested materials.
I have been using Keogh Tyers Grade hackle for some time now. Not only is he local here in Michigan, but the quality is probalby equal to a grade 2 or 3, and the price is much less than the more known brands (think I paid $22 per cape ). For those of us that don’t pump out mass quantities of flies, these are just the ticket.
Hello, my name is Art and I am a Hacklaholic…
My hackle is kept in two huge zip-lock bags… The really huge ones… There are dozens of capes, more saddles than capes and several full skins (Denny’s full skins). I have stuff from most major ranches and have examples spanning decades.
I still cannot walk through Sportsmans Warehouse without a glance at the hackle…
In the beginning a tier needs basic colors and a wide range of sizes. Only capes can get you there fast. Denny will split capes for you to double your color range. Bigger retailers do that also, but they choose the colors…
If I was starting over the first hackle I would get would be one of Denny’s new cree color. It could likely be used on just about any fly pattern and be effective (Atherton anyone?).
After Denny’s cree I think a White (old eyes) cape and then I would go nuts and start buying all over again! 
Note in the picture that some capes have the “chickabou” attached. Denny leaves that on his capes for you and it is very useful stuff.
art
My preference is saddle in nearly all cases because of the consistency in width and the number of flies a single feather can tie. While the stem is thicker at the base of saddle hackle (isn’t this true for all feathers), it is not an issue.
As others have said, Whiting Farms has the best stuff out there if you are in the market. Pretty much everyone else is in the “also-ran” category.
Odd, I don’t think that is what I said, but if Whiting’s stuff is good enough for your flies, go for it. I need both types of hackle as there are uses for each. To say one type is better than the other is just silly.
I only use necks, they have feathers down to 28 and smaller, the saddles are too big, the smallest feathers on a saddle I’ve seen is a 12/14
I think Whiting has the best hackle out there… IF you are only looking for the longest hackles in the smallest sizes AND you don’t mind fighting them to get them wound on. The stems are too stiff and flip around when the hackle is wound.
If colors make a difference to you, and you want to get them to stay put when wound and if you like working with a great guy, Denny is the best. His prices are lower and you get more useable fiber for your buck…
art