Soft Hackles Thread

Another forum member inquired about having a "Soft Hackles
" thread, so here it is

Please post anything regarding “Soft Hackle” here. Please include recipes for the flies you are posing to help other tyers who may want to tie the pattern you’re posting

Ashy

Rube Cross

Hook - Mustad 3399, 3906 or equivalent
Thread - Black
Tail - Grizzly (“Gray”) hen hackle fibers
Body - Muskrat
Hackle - Grizzly (“Gray”) hen

The Classic Wet Fly Box - Mike Valla

2 Likes

Awesome Olive

Hook - Wet fly
Thread - Olive
Tail - Olive cockerel or substitute
Ribbing - Copper wire
Body - BWO fine dubbing
Hackle - Olive hen

Awesome Olive – SoftHackles

Dark Watchet

Hook - Mustad R50 size 16
Thread - Pearsall’s 6a Orange Silk
Hackle - Iron Blue hen
Body - Orange and Purple Thread twisted together and lightly dubbed with
mole

This fly was originally tied in the UK to imitate the Iron Blue Dun (Baetis niger) an insect we don’t have in this country. I’ve discovered, however, tht trout will take it wherever there are cress bugs present, and will always be on my cast of flies whenever I’m fishing a limestone spring creek when there is no hatch in progress.

The original hackle was from the throat of a jackdaw, I’ve tied it that way and can’t tell the difference between that and the hen shown here.

3 Likes

Baetis Soft Hackle

Hook - TMC100 or equivalent, size 18 – 24
Thread - Red
Tail - Mallard flank
Body - Olive-gray superfine dubbing or equivalent (I used kapok)
Hackle - Dyed dun hen hackle

Developed by Nick Nicklas from Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, MT.

I’ll post a few as soon as I’m happy with my photography.

DSCN0132

The “item A” was one of the first flies I learned to tie. Unlike most soft hackles, I was told that it must be tied weighted. It is effective on the Muskegon river in size 10 down to the smallest green hackle I could find. Larger sizes were good early in the season, later smaller flies were better.
Lime green schlappen for tail and hackle
peacock herl body

Black and Silver Soft Hackle

Hook - Standard wet fly style
Thread - Black
Ribbing - Silver wire
Body - Black wire
Hackle - Hungarian Partridge

1 Like

Black Drake Soft Hackle

A Dick Winter Fly Pattern

Hook - Mustad 94840, size 10-12
Thread - Brown
Tail - White neck hackle fibers
Body - Brown or maroon wool
Rib - Gray mono-cord or silver oval tinsel
Thorax - Peacock herl
Collar - White or cream hen hackle

Dick Winter’s Black Drake Soft Hackle is tied using a maroon or brown body ribbed with contrasting gray mono-cord ribbing. The fly is part of a life-cycle series and based on Polly Rosborough patterns. Dick and Polly were partners in a fly-tying business in the 1970’s working together closely. Dick’s patterns balance simplicity and realism. Being a commercial fly tyer, simple patterns were preferred especially when several dozen are required to be tied in an afternoon.

Black Pennel

Hook - Mustad 3399
Thread - Black
Tail - Golden pheasant tippets
Ribbing - Flat silver tinsel
Body - Black floss
Hackle - Black hen

1 Like

Black Spider

Hook - Mustad 3399, 3906 or equivalent
Thread - Black
Body - Black floss or uni stretch
Hackle - Black hen

The Classic Wet Fly Box - Mike Valla

Blue Dun Soft Hackle

Michael Jensen

Hook – Mustad curved nymph, size 10
Thread - Yellow
Tail - Blue Dun hen hackle fibers
Body – Rear - tying thread, front - gray dubbing
Hackle - Blue Dun hen saddle or neck

1 Like

I think that one will be very effective when there are egg laying caddis in the water.

This is a BWO Soft Hackle I fish off of the bend of a dry fly. This one is a size 16 for picture purposes. I usually tie them in 18 and 20. The Body is olive PT, although it looks gold, I used olive/grey dubbing for the thorax, and a starling feather for the hackle. The colors are off, but I’ll keep trying.

1 Like

Blue Winged Olive Soft Hackle

Hook - Mustad 3399
Thread - Olive
Ribbing - Olive ultra wire
Body - Dyed olive pheasant tail fibers
Thorax - Olive dubbing
Hackle - Starling

1 Like

Bottle Imp

Hook - Standard wet/nymph style
Thread - Black
Tail - Scarlet quill sections or hackle fibers
Body - Blue gray wool or fur
Hackle - Black

1 Like

I tie something very similar as a dropper for the brookies, except yellow wire for the body and a black wire rib. It sinks a little, but doesnt (usually) dunk my dry fly.

Bradshaw’s Fancy

Hook - Mustad 3399, 3906 or equivalent
Thread - Black or red
Tag - Red floss or substitute
Body - Peacock herl
Hackle - Grey cock hackle
Peak - Red floss or substitute

Brown Bomber

Hook - Mustad 3906 or equivalent
Thread - Brown
Ribbing - Flat gold tinsel
Body - Dubbed muskrat fur with guard hairs removed
Hackle - Brown partridge

Popular Fly Patterns - Terry Hellekson

Looks like a good bluegill fly.
Rick