Wolly Bugger Hackle

[joe2011]

Im really new to the fly tying world learning what I know on my own. Im confused as I see wolly bugger recipes call for saddle hackle but I thought that saddle hackle was for dry flies. So is this hen hackle or what? Help me clearifly this problem please

[flyrodman]

Im really new to the fly tying world learning what I know on my own. Im confused as I see wolly bugger recipes call for saddle hackle but I thought that saddle hackle was for dry flies. So is this hen hackle or what? Help me clearifly this problem please

I use some really cheap strung saddle hackle that bass pro sells for somewhere around 5 bucks. Saddle hackle is used in dry flies too. I have seen woolly bugger specific hackle, last time I saw it was at bass pro.

[Danoinark]

I use both. I don't think it makes a Tinkers damn difference actually. The softer hen hackle will give that part of the fly some undulating action that can entice a fish.

Dano

[jdmidwest]

Saddle hackles come from the same chickens as better grade neck hackles, just farther down the chicken on the back. Saddle hackles are generally longer, webbier, and softer in normal birds. It is the feathers that trail down the back and curl under the wings. Genetic breeding like the Whiting farms has created high grade saddle hackles that are good for tying dry flies in 10-16 range and rate a premium price. Prime dry fly hackle used to come from the neck area of the chicken.

Strung hackle does fine in the larger sizes, cheap India or Chinese hackle does the same too. Smaller buggers can be tyed with nicer hackle or cheap hackle of bigger size and trimmed to fit. Both usually create the same effect for fishing.

[Gavin]

Any good neck, saddle, or strung chicken feather will do...helps if you know how to fold a hackle in half before you wrap it........and your buggers will be indestructable if you tie in your folded hackle at the front...wrap rear, then tie down the hackle with a wire rib before tying off at the head. Cheers.

[Jdecoudres]

I havent heard of folding the hackle where can I go to learn this or how is it done?

[Gavin]

Google

Eric Leiser Folding Hackle

And youll find it in Google Books

[dennis boatman]

I just go out to the chicken coop and gather some neck hackle...works great, and its cheep...get it...cheep?

[flyrodman]

I just go out to the chicken coop and gather some neck hackle...works great, and its cheep...get it...cheep?

Really?

[jdmidwest]

Bantam roosters make great hackle for woolies. I used to pluck the ones at the farm from time to time. Now all we have is white roosters. The old ones were a nice furnace color, brown with black roots. Funny thing though, they never seemed to like it. But they survived, unlike the commercial ones.