What Am I Missing

All about flies Fly Tying
1

I recenlty bought two dry fly necks from a local retailer. They are made by Kenough. Last night I tried to use some feathers for a web wing caddis (size 12). I measured the hackle fibers against the gauge and was confident I had the right size.

When I palmered the hackle it was two or three sizes to large. Then it dawned on me that I was tying in from the butt end of the feather… which was marketedly longer than the last 1/3 of the feather. Is this common among dry fly hackles? The Whiting 100 pack has very long feathers that has a uniform barb length from tip to butt…

Am I a victim of my own budget… i.e., should I just buy a better hackle?

2

I have found it so in all hackles unless you by the 100’s, or I have found some Genetics even in size all the way to the shaft.

3

With necks, yes this is a common problem. I use saddles now and the problem virtually goes away. No goin’ back to necks for me…

4

The Whiting 100’s are saddle hackles, which are very consistent throughout the length of the feather. Necks are tapered, and it does not matter what the brand is. I usually measure neck feathers where the webbing stops (the darker part of the feather – usually from the base until midway up the feather). Capes are great for getting a wide range of sizes. Saddles are great for a range of about 2 to 3 sizes. I usually will start with a cape, and then purchase saddle in the sizes I run out of.

5

I’ve actually found cape feathers to be more consistent. I check the feather between the tip and the “useable” butt end (where the web is about 1/3 barb length) and rarely see much variation - btw, I don’t usually use any cape grade higher that #3 or “Pro”. On the other hand, I’ve got a Whiting saddle where most feathers vary at least one hook size from one end to the other; the feathers are so long, though that this isn’t much of a problem. If I’m tying #14s, I just clip off that section and tie it in, leaving the section that measured #12 attached until I need it.

Regards,
Scott

6

All hackle feathers have a ‘sweet’ spot, an area where the you get the best balance of hackle length, web free fibers and the right stem dia. Tip and butt areas might have good looking hackle length yetare too thick or thin in the stem to wind properly.

On some saddle hackles (like the Whiting 100’s) this sweet spot can be several inches long. On a Grade #2 neck it might only be an inch or less.

I agree that the manufactors numbers tend to be a little generous. To avoid mis- sizing try to measure from the middle of the sweet spot.