I am in need of some capes and am looking for a deal. I know that it is best to buy things in person instead of on the internet, but feel that with Whiting I get at least a more consistant graded product than some others. Anyone see any good deals going on right now on capes? More intested in capes than saddles just for the wider variety of feather sizes at this point. The prices on these seem to be pretty consistant among different dealers that I have found so was interested in your help finding some place that might have a sale going now that it isn’t peak tying season like it is in the winter. Most people have alread tied much of their flies for the season. A push in the right direction would be appreciated.
I suggest you pick up the phone and call Denny Conrad at Conranch Hackle. I have never tied with better hackle, true quality and the prices won’t break the bank either. Take a look at his capes at www.conranch.com then make the call. If you have hackle questions, ask Denny, Ken or Liz, they won’t steer you wrong.
While Conranch produces some adequate hackle, they are NOT comparable with Whiting Farms Dry Fly Hackle capes nor saddles. They are however cheaper, but from my experience, you’re not going to get the same consistency as you would sticking with Whiting Dry Fly Hackle, despite what the zealots might argue. YMMV.
PRM, for some reason your link didn’t work for me. I hope you were talking about Mike Hogue’s shop. He get’s a lot of my business. Here’s another try at posting it. http://www.mwflytying.com/
Whatfly, so if I don’t argue with you I’m not a zealot and if I do I am one? Just curious.
I can afford Whiting…I have lots of them…their gold necks and saddles are quite good (The ‘gold’ are by far the best value…feather count is unbelieavable)…but for the flies I tie where how they ‘look’ matters to me, I prefer Conranch.
There is something about the color saturation, the sheen, and subtle variations in the Conranch stuff that make them look somehow ‘more’.
But, my tying is probably different than most. I look at a dry fly ‘neck’ as tail feathers for bass bugs and streamers. I use most of my Whiting necks/saddles for the simple ‘wrapped around the hook shank to float the fly’ chores, and for palmering and such where the ‘look’ of the feather itself isn’t important. I’ll also use the ‘best’ of them, as far as looks go, for the inside ‘bulk it up’ fathers on a tail or streamer wing, and use the prettier Conranch feathers on the outside.
The Whiting hackle is certainly uniform in how it wraps, how it stands out from the hook, and how it behaves on the water. But, for my uses other than as ‘wrapped’, they are pretty dull and lifeless.
Just not as pretty, at least to me. I’m certain the fish don’t care all that much, but I find the longer I do this, the more I ‘care’.
Buddy, I think this confirms the old saying “half the tying is for the tyer, the other half for the fish”. I think this is true the longer you stay with it. Take care,
What color are you looking for? What grade. I may be willing to part with some #3,s and I have one gold grade that has been used only a couple of times. I will have to see if it is m dun or what.
Whiting hackle is top notch and very good to use for Dry Flies. Another brand that we use religously in the Catskills on dry flies is Collins Hackle. The hackle is stiff, great to work with but evem as important as stiff is the naturall colors are just superb. A lot of us in the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild use this hackle and truly give it a thumbs up. Collins is just a very superb hackle to use. Take a look at this brand, the prices are reasonable and the quality is outstanding. I think you will like it.
