WebFreeman Posted March 26, 2007 Posted March 26, 2007 I've attached a couple "soft hackles" (I think, anyway). Details: thread bodies fine wire rib size 16 strung saddle hackle Looks to me like the hackle is too long. All the feathers were the same, so should I trim them down or use something else. I've noticed most wets have that swept back look which mine don't have, but the hackle certainly isn't as stiff as a dry-fly hackle. Again, any advice is greatly appreciated. “Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” — Henry David Thoreau Visit my web site @ webfreeman.com for information on freelance web design.
troutchaser Posted March 26, 2007 Posted March 26, 2007 I'm not positive, but I think your hackle is backward. It appears to curve up around the eye instead of back around the body. You're right, the hackle is too long. There's a method I use to adjust the hackle length called the distribution wrap. Here's a link for you to look at: http://ozarkanglers.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=2909 Dano posted a link in there to a video of this method. One last suggestion: I tend to use about one to one and a half turns of soft hackle and no more. I think the "less is more" approach is best for these flies. Paul Rone
Crippled Caddis Posted March 26, 2007 Posted March 26, 2007 <Looks to me like the hackle is too long> Er----too long, oriented wrong, waaaaay too much of it and wrong type of feather. Other than that it's jes' fine.;o) You need SOFT hackle that will lay back properly and move seductively with the current. Rooster hackle isn't gonna do it no matter what part of the bird it's taken from. Any upland gamebird will have feathers suitable to the task, Quail, Partridge, Grouse, Pheasant, Woodcock, Snipe etc. One of the tradional feathers and a very good one is Starling. In the US they are a non-native, invasive specie unprotected by federal law. Check state and local ordinances where you live and if it's legal drag out the old pellet gun and help remove a few from the gene pool. The English Sparrow or House Sparrow is another imported invasive specie that might well have feathers suitable for soft-hackles, especially in the sizes most suitable for small hooks, but I've never tried one. ALL other species of songbird are protected and as with any other protected specie it isn't legal to possess parts of them in any quantity. That can and does mean it's not even legal to pick up a shed feather from the ground.;o( "You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard
Gavin Posted March 26, 2007 Posted March 26, 2007 If you want to do soft hackles, I'd recommend that you purchase a partridge skin...You might be able to use a webby saddle hackle, but youll probably have to strip one side of the hackle or fold the hackle in half. One or two turns is all you need. Cheers.
Greg Posted March 26, 2007 Posted March 26, 2007 I agree with the other posters. Nice attempt and it will/would probably catch fish. But the hackle is a little long and needs to sweep towards the back in my opinion. Soft hackles are simple and look easy to tie but I've found them to be deceptively hard to tie. Michael at BCO helped me. Mine finally look passable. Greg "My biggest worry is that my wife (when I'm dead) will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it" - Koos Brandt Greg Mitchell
Crippled Caddis Posted March 26, 2007 Posted March 26, 2007 Gavin wrote: <If you want to do soft hackles, I'd recommend that you purchase a partridge skin...You might be able to use a webby saddle hackle, but youll probably have to strip one side of the hackle or fold the hackle in half. One or two turns is all you need.> I use a lot of hen saddles for soft-hackles. You can get almost any color and compared to a partridge they are very cheap so you can have a selection for what one good partridge costs. Even so I don't think anything can quite take the place of a partridge with good color. Another skin I find useful is Guinea. It's a great soft-hackle but you do need a full skin to find many small enough. Another full skin I can't even imagine being without is Pheasant. A Pheasant skin has 'feathers for every occasion' including soft-hackles. While I wouldn't LIKE the restriction I think that I could get by quite well at the tying bench and on the water if all I had was a Fox Squirrel skin and a full Pheasant skin. "You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence." ---Charles Austin Beard
troutchaser Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 I agree with Crippled Caddis. Try a pheasant skin. I use indian hen with a distribution wrap, but I'm really partial to partridge and guinea. Paul Rone
damselfly Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 starling is good too for soft hackles.....i tie a pheasant tail soft hackle and have fished it at taney with success.....i love fishing soft hackles...
WebFreeman Posted March 27, 2007 Author Posted March 27, 2007 Can you guys post some pictures? I'd be curious to see what these different flies look like. “Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.” — Henry David Thoreau Visit my web site @ webfreeman.com for information on freelance web design.
Gavin Posted March 27, 2007 Posted March 27, 2007 You might Google a fellow named Sylvester Nemes, he has several good books with loads of soft hackle patterns. His book cover's ought to be enough to give you some ideas. Cheers.
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