I just started Tying soft hackles and Flymphs, I would like to know ----which colour soft hackle is your best producer.
I am doing some reading by Dave Hughes on presentation and techniques .Which technique serves you best.
Thanks
JaD
JAd,
My favorite colors of soft hackles are Partridge and (insert your favorite color here), with the best results stemming from the use of orange, red, green floss, in that order.
Pheasant tail soft hackles also work very well for me, with a brown partridge hackle. I use a fine copper wire for the thread when wrapping the pheasant tail fibers. Wrap the fibers around the wire to form a chenille, then wrap up the hook. Saves ribbing the fly and reinforces the PT fibers.
Depending on the water I fish soft hackles upstream on a greased leader, within a few inches of the surface film. Watch for a rise or bulge where you fly is. I also fish them on a classic wet fly swing,cast down and across. There is no missing a strike fished this method. Be sure to let the fly hang on the dangle for a few seconds. Lots of stikes then.
REE
Ron
Whats the smallest S_Hackles that you tie and use.Can you use a S-H as small as a Blue Quill
John
JAd-
What REE said as far as patterns and fishing.
I’m in the East and in order of preference use green silk, orange silk, tan dubbing, and peacock herl bodies with grouse hackle. I put a white thread underbody under the silk to keep the color of the silk “true” when wet.
You may also be interested in this thread from a while ago, with links to detailed hackling methods and really interesting techniques from Hans and Donald:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/view … sc&start=0
Their sites are outstanding.
After reading several rave reviews from folks using the JV Hens from Conranch a sponsor of FAOL, i plan on switching over (from Grouse). Denny apparently is happy to talk on the phone (!!!) to make sure he can answer your needs for whatever you’re tying.
Other recommendations for smaller sizes include starling.
I use mostly 14 and 16, and a few 18s.
Good luck.
peregrines
Don’t go astream without a pattern that Jim Leisenring called a March Brown spider: brown partridge hackle; dubbed hare’s mask body; thin gold tinsel ribbing. A killer.
Chuck
I tie my softies down to 18. For hackle, try the aftershaft feather of a partridge, grouse, etc. Makes a great hackle.
I also have a couple of Denny Conrad’s JV Hens. Excellent soft hackcle with a very pliable stem.
REE
Jad,
I fish them often, either alone or as a dropper of a streamer or another wet fly. I tie mine in sizes 10-14. My favorite pattern is the Partridge and Yellow (which I tie with Pearsall’s silk thread) but I also like the Starling and Herl (this one I only tie in a size 14).
Alberto
Softhackles are my favorite. I will fish size 2 Gartsides down to a 20 using Starling feathers. My favorite color on the smaller is orange and on the larger, Black/Red or Brown/Olive. Love the movement.
One of my favourites, the old March Brown.
In Courtney Williams Dict. of Trout Flies there is a long list of variations on the March Brown for wet flies alone.
A great and successful favourite here is to mix the Hare’s Ear with Claret Seal’s fur.
I gave a version of this a few year’s ago on this very board, and a few day’s later some came back saying they had a very successful day using it.
And while I’m about it, here are a few pictures.
Using yellow silk as a rib is very good, or even fluo yellow.
None of these are difficult ties, so, no excuses, get tying. 
Im not the best at tying soft hackles…
but with a little practice Im sure Ill get better…
Here is my first attempt at a Primerose and Pearl soft hackle…
This has one of Denny’s Mature hens as the hackle
Night Angler
Looks Good to me, I don't want to tie to tie .I want to catch Mr Trout, I'm glad the one fellow said he usees size twenty's I think it will take a small fly to catch my fish they are highly pressured fish. I would like to thank every buddyies reply to the thread.
Regards
John
[quote=“Ron Eagle Elk”]I tie my softies down to 18. For hackle, try the aftershaft feather of a partridge,
grouse, etc. Makes a great hackle.<
Hey, watch your tongue! <BG>
Ya gotta tie those aftershaft fellers…er feathers in carefully and have care when wrapping them around the hook shank. They do break pretty easy. I usually just break off the tip and use whats left.
REE
Aftershaft, Sorry Dude, but ya do make great hackle on the little bitty softies.
Yes I do - if you don’t mind me braggin’ about myself!
LOL!
Hands down the best producer for me has to be the Starling & Purple. I love that fact that something in PURPLE is a great fish catcher. I do best with a size 14 or 16 which in a wet fly hook is small.
When I was a kid, I BELIEVED that purple was THE fish catching color; must have been all of those purple plastic worms I fished.
On that after shaft are you using o dubbing lope with that or How???
Bambozal Is that a light purple or dark? and for watch hatch are you using the starling and purple.
John
Don’t know about Bamboozle, But Purple does some great stuff int he color column of water. Purgple is a very priductive color. I have real good lucj with purple emergers size 24’s.
Surprised, more people don’t use Starling. You can use them on the very small flies.
For my smaller flies I also use Floss for the body and in answer to dark or light, I guess mine would be dark (the color of Grape Popcycles 
).
Try Orange also!
When I use them, say for a larger fly like a Casual Dress, I put them in a dubbing loop, spin and wrap them.
>>Aftershaft, Sorry Dude, but ya do make great hackle on the little bitty softies.<<
That just may be the best compliment I’ve ever had 
JAd:
What ever shade of purple UNI calls their purple floss. That’s what I use for the body. I also use purple thread for the head…just because.
I use it during the infamous WI FLI hatch which occurs often when nothing else is working.
By the way, WI FLI stands for: Whenever I Feel Like It.
In other words; anytime there isn’t anything in particular working or happening. I have extremely good luck fishing it off the bend of an Elk Wing Caddis on smaller streams.