Soft Hackles?

[grizzly]

I've fly fished for a number of years now and, for some reason, soft hackles have not been a fly that I use often. Is this a productive fly on Taney on 0 units? If so, is there a particular size that works better than other sizes? I really like the idea of swinging a soft hackle and I just wanted to pick up any info that I can on it. Any input is appreciated.

[MattS]

My best days on Taney (and Norfork) have been because of soft hackles. At Taney, my first choice would be a size 18 red butt, followed by size 16 yellow.

[snagged in outlet 3]

Swinging a Griffiths gnat in the winter time during a midge hatch works well.

Tug it under, swing and strip.

Pete

[XP 590]

Love soft hackles. Can't beat the feeling of that tight line tug. I've fished primarily #16, red, orange and olive. A guide at Taney turned me on to them about 10 years ago and they changed my fishing. Funny thing was this guide didn't think browns would rise to them but I've been slaying browns on another stream all this year on soft hackles.

[duckydoty]

I love swinging a size 10 bead headed pine squirrel soft hackle on Taney. size 14 and 16 olive soft hackles have worked well for me too.

[grizzly]

Thank you guys so much! I really appreciate the advise and I'm looking forward to trying this out in the near future.

[DaddyO]

DD, what does a Pine Squirrel Soft Hackle look like? Or what's the recipe?

[duckydoty]

DaddyO,

It was a joke. This is the pine squirrel soft hackle. It is one of my favorite flies to swing and strip on Taney.

Size 10, 3x long streamer hook. 1/8th inch bead and palmered pine squirrel.

[Ham]

I struggle with soft hackles and woolies. I just cant seem to get the hang of the hookset (or lack of hookset?) needed for these type flies. I get jarring strikes and hook very few fish . Its tough for me not to over react to the strike. I was raised a bass fisherman in the fiberglass worm rod era.

I have caught fish using them and at times a bunch of them, but my strike to hookup ratio is not where I want it to be.

[Flysmallie]

Its tough for me not to over react to the strike. I was raised a bass fisherman in the fiberglass worm rod era.

I have had the same problem for the same reason. But I'm not sure that there is anything more fun than swinging a bugger on Taney when it's right. There cannot be a hookset. Just gotta let them have it, take it. Yeah you will miss some, just make sure you got a good hold of that rod for when they really want it. Lots of fun.