Hackle Supplies Drying Up?

[ness]

So I was in Cabela's over the weekend, and noticed a couple ladies in there that didn't really seem like the fishing type. More like college kids. I overheard them talking to the guy about hackle and it turns out they were there for feathers. After they left, I talked to the guy. He said there was no hackle in the shop, and hadn't been since January. Also said that they weren't expected to get any for a year. I asked him if that was the case everywhere, and he said yes. He also said the hackle companies were getting twice the normal price, and when the fad was over they said they were going to maintain the high price to the tackle sellers.

Now, I'm not surprised there's a hackle shortage, but this frankly smelled a little like BS, especially the part about the hackle suppliers announcing they'd keep the price high.

Has anybody had a discussion with a fly shop about all this? Phil/Tim -- can you shed any light on the situation? I checked Cabela's website, and they seem to have hackle available there.

[Flysmallie]

Ness it's been going on for awhile, and I don't think it's going to let up soon. The hackle suppliers can announce that they are going to keep the prices high all they want, but when the hair fashion fad wears out they will be stuck with us fisherman again. So if they want to move some product at that point they are going to have to adjust their pricing.

Here's a link to a saddle that ended last week on ebay. $570.00!!!!

Saddle Hackle on ebay

[Wayne SW/MO]

especially the part about the hackle suppliers announcing they'd keep the price high.

I doubt that, unless they find a way to eat them or propel your vehicle.

They would also risk foreign companies up grading their stock, the Chinese have forgotten more than we know about chickens.

I've got to get my grizzly skin on there.

[BredMan]

So I was in Cabela's over the weekend, and noticed a couple ladies in there that didn't really seem like the fishing type. More like college kids. I overheard them talking to the guy about hackle and it turns out they were there for feathers. After they left, I talked to the guy. He said there was no hackle in the shop, and hadn't been since January. Also said that they weren't expected to get any for a year. I asked him if that was the case everywhere, and he said yes. He also said the hackle companies were getting twice the normal price, and when the fad was over they said they were going to maintain the high price to the tackle sellers.

Now, I'm not surprised there's a hackle shortage, but this frankly smelled a little like BS, especially the part about the hackle suppliers announcing they'd keep the price high.

Has anybody had a discussion with a fly shop about all this? Phil/Tim -- can you shed any light on the situation? I checked Cabela's website, and they seem to have hackle available there.

This was on the TV news and in the newspaper here in St Louis during the American Idol shows. They even interviewed Tom Hargrove (Hargrove Fly Shop) about the increase in his sales of feathers for the lastest hair style fad. Hair stylist were buying up his stock at a fast rate to meet the demand. This was all generated by American Idol judge Steven Tyler (Aerosmith fame) who's trademark of having feathers braided into his hair caught on with the millions of viewers who watched the show. When this fad fizzles out there should be lots of 'chicken feathers' available and if the hackle companies try to push the price limit they may find themselves selling them for pillows!

[ness]

But -- anybody actually having trouble finding hackle? I'm good on my stock, so I'm really just curious about the effects of the fad on our hobby. The guy at Cabelas made it sound like there wasn't a feather to be found anywhere, but they had Metz on their site when I checked. None in the store though, which really isn't that unusual since I usually leave there without something I went in for.

I hope the hackle suppliers ride the wave as long as they can. Like all fads, it will die though and things will settle back to (the new) normal.

[ness]

This was on the TV news and in the newspaper here in St Louis during the American Idol shows. They even interviewed Tom Hargrove (Hargrove Fly Shop) about the increase in his sales of feathers for the lastest hair style fad. Hair stylist were buying up his stock at a fast rate to meet the demand. This was all generated by American Idol judge Steven Tyler (Aerosmith fame) who's trademark of having feathers braided into his hair caught on with the millions of viewers who watched the show. When this fad fizzles out there should be lots of 'chicken feathers' available and if the hackle companies try to push the price limit they may find themselves selling them for pillows!

That's interesting. I wonder if huge lips will catch on too?

Well, I don't know how quickly you can ramp up chicken production, but if flysmallies ebay link is an indication, I'd be feeding those roosters a little Viagra with their chicken feed.

[Wayne SW/MO]

If I'm not mistaken Whiting obtained Hoffman and there was no comparison to his feathers in quality and length. I do wonder what "Euro" is however?

[Flysmallie]

But -- anybody actually having trouble finding hackle?

I guess. I mean I hear of some that are having trouble, but it depends on what you are looking for. Two of my daughters have these, one has nice long even hackles that look very nice, the other has a wider, webbier (you might check that for me Eric, I don't think it was a word until now) hackle. The focus seems to be on the long thin hackles but they are moving to the wider and shorter stuff because they have ran out of the nicer inventory.

Personally I haven't had a problem finding what I need at this point, but I'm not exactly tying dries here either.

[ness]

Wayne -- yeah, Whiting bough out Hoffman a few years ago and has been working on improving the stock since then. I think they're better than they were. They've got a bunch of new designations now -- Gold, Silver, Bronze, Pro, and some other stuff. Also bought the Hebert stock that you used to occasionally see around. No clue what Euro is -- it's not currently listed as a product on their site.

[stlfisher]

Maybe it is just me, but if I can't find what i am looking for because it is in someone's hair....well that would be quite annoying. I hope the fad ends soon.