I was just at my local fly tying shop and they had a number of Whiting genetic American Hackles in “retail grade”… I have never heard of that grade???.
Anyone know what that really means? The one I bought was white
Thanks,
Northwoods
" where WINTER is just arriving as I write this memo"
I believe they got rid of the ‘gold’, ‘silver’ and ‘bronze’ grades and now use the ‘retail’ grade. Thats what I found when I GOOGLED!
Whiting switched many of their products over the a 1 grade system. All Hens, American Line, Coq de Leon Rooster Capes, Eurohackle, and Spey Rooster Saddles.
The major reason was because of processing time.
Their grading on the capes that still have the gold, silver, bronze, pro, etc are mainly based on feather length and how usable the overall cape is so less webbing on the larger feathers.
I do have customers who dislike it because with the American Rooster Capes they would know that the higher grade had the longer feathers.
Do not think that the Retail grade is a junk grade, I have had hundreds of retail grades capes com through and they all over been top quality.
Joe