Last summer I spent a day fly fishing with a guide that was really into soft hackles, and had a great day of fishing with him. After that, I started playing with soft hackle patterns, trying different patterns that I found, and experimenting with variations. I came up with this one in the process, and had some really great luck with it. It’s basicly a pheasant tail with flash. The trout loved it.
What’s your favorite soft hackle??
Very nice. I just did the Beginner’s Fly Swap with Parnelli and we had soft hackles to do this -learned a lot? What is the body, pheasant tail? What hackle did you use? I’ve been thinking about other soft hackle variants to do.
Mike
Ah nice to see another Hawkeye here. 
I started tying soft hackles last year and allot of luck with a pattern called a “Cockaroo” I found on the Warmwater Fly Tyer site. I don’t fish for the traditional trouts but our local Gills and other panfish seem to really go after soft hackles too with a little practice on presentation and technique.
Mike
The tail is an olive/pearl Krystal flash, the body is pheasant tail ribbed with copper wire. Thorax is an olive dubbing with just a little flash to it; got it from Spirit River. The hackle is Hungarian partirdge. I haven’t had the chance to try it with panfish, but I will when spring gets here.
CJ
Sweet tye! I got a bunch of favorites and can not possibly stick to just only one alone. I got some more advance patterns that is between an wet and emerger or you can say emerging wet patterns. They will rock when the fishing gets tough.
Nice-looking soft hackle. Here’s a similar soft hackle that works particularly well during winter (now!): Willy Self’s Soft Sparkle Hackle (I made that name up, not sure what the real name is). The sparkly tail in your pattern (and in the wing of Willy’s) is a fine-point finishing touch that makes a big difference.
…a few more Willy Self Patterns
These worked:
I like the krystal flash tail; have to give that a try.
Regards,
Scott
I loved all the patterns you all have shown here on this post and was wondering if you all would share what size hook you all are using? Thanks in advance…
My top 2 are #20s, last one is a #14.
Scott I sure liked the flies…
I saved that Cockaroo recipe. Looks like a good one!
[b]pittendrigh, [u]that pattern is KILLER on the Provo here. The little flash over the collar in “BLUE” flashabou is the key. I would say Softhackles are my favorite anywhere fly.
Not just rivers, but streamer size for stillwater (Thanks to the late Jack Gartside)
TRANSFORMER (effects of covering regular tying thread with SILK, then adding water - this one, white silk over red thread
As far as the Gartside softhackle. This one can be tied to represent multi BIG MEAT meals. Add a polar chenille middle to crate a perfect bait fish
When wet (bottom one)
Plus I have found this to be a perfect LEECH pattern splecially the way it moves in the water
Sorry, I have no idea why everything is underlined and didn’t mean to picture heavy my post, just wanted to add Streamer Softhackle to the equation:D
[/u][/b]
Fly Goddess, what materials did you use and how big is the Northern Light pattern? That’s a neat looking pattern. I’d say “it’s a pretty” tie, but I don’t want anyone to get the wrong impression.
Thanks,
Bruce
[b]How are you people fishing these flies? Down and across or as a nymph on a dropper (highsticking)?
[/b]
here’s a link to the Northern Light FOTW
http://flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/031609fotw.php
it’s a really nice tie.
Mike
It is the Uni Mylar double side tied with the orange up then wraps to the peacock
http://www.caddisflyshop.com/undositi.html
I used the #14 on a #14 200R hook.
I fish them like a nymph, but I do the best using a Type II sinking line.
Wow, those are some great looking softhackle patterns! Gonna have to tie up some of those!
Here’s a few I’ve tied. I just started fishing softhackles a bit this year for crappies and bluegills. Will definitely be trying them more often!
Anyone tie them with edgebrite?
Speaking of soft hackles, here’s a link(s) to a series of flies actually tied by Syl Nemes:
http://montana-riverboats.com/index.php?fpage=Fly-Tying/Sylvester-Nemes/
and a few more:
http://montana-riverboats.com/index.php?fpage=Fly-Tying/Sylvester-Nemes/A-Few-More/DSC_0085.htm
Thanks, SLY is the soft hackle man for sure.
