FLYMPH FORUM

Hi Folks,
Thought I'd let you all know that I have some Whiting and Hebert dry fly capes available.
Here's the link :http://www.jimsflyco.com/catalog/Whitin ... e-1-1.html
Also some Indian Hen Capes: http://www.jimsflyco.com/catalog/Indian ... 191-1.html
The hen cape situation does not look good, at least from Whiting Farms and I would suspect the other major growers as well. I will be getting some Whiting and Hebert hen capes in the near future, my favorite choice for thorax flymphs. These will be hard to come by in the very near future.
Jim

Hi Jim,
What's the reason for this? Is it disease or the fashion industry soaking up the feathers?

Mark

Hi Mark,
The hackle producers have moved towards dry fly hackle for 2 reasons, profitability and demand. The fashion industry is still buying feathers , paying a lot more than tiers will for them and they want long feathers. It's a matter of good business for them. Hen hackle has alwys been a tough sell for the growers. Apparently most fly fishermen haven't discovered the power of the flymph yet
Things will level out eventually and we will get our hen feathers back but it's going to be a while.
Jim

Rather discouraging!

Mark

Thank you Jim. I am heading to the flyshop now to try and make a couple hen purchases. Whiting Farms is about 40 miles away from me as the crow flys, but I dont have any better chance of getting hackles from them than anyone else does. I wish there was a home field advantage.

Jim, why use two words ("good business"), when one will do, (Greed), to simply tell the truth. Sure the nature of "business" is inherantly bout greed.....maximize your profits any way you can...........but "good" business is to look out for those who put you where you are FIRST, and not put yourself ahead of your once loyal customers. HELLO! and i am not preaching "at" you.........i am simply telling it like it IS! i wish you all the best, as from all i can tell, you are very good people. but all the bull**** is simply that, BULL****! and i find it appalling.

anyone lookin' for good natural (undyed) hen skins, at fair prices, should call Denny at Conranch Hackle. Support a guy who supports (fly tyers FIRST) YOU! Thank you very much. .............................

Willow: Here here. You are right on the nose. Who else did these feather peddlers sell to? I don't know. Does anyone? Curious. I am completely out of size 18/20 hackle for dry flies and refuse to purchase any. I haven't tied an Adams, Cahill or any small fly for that matter since this whole bull shit started. My only option is to purchase already made flies from a friend of mine who has them made over seas. Great flies, cheep price. I'd rather tie, but I have to buy now.

I like Denny's feathers too. I want a brown hen from him one of these days. But, I am cutting back on my purchases...at least for now.

I have one Conranch, golden badger, I really don't care for it. The color is more like a cream or regular badger. I'd sell it for $50.00.

Mark,
With all due respect I find your post truly offensive and I find it amazing that some would scold people for making a honest profit. It's called supply and demand. Demand vs supply dictates price. What is this communist China or the Soviet Union? I will gladly buy everyone's gold at 2010 prices. Who's first? How about those who put some money in a slot machine and hit the jackpot or win the lottery should they simply give most of the money away?
The simple fact of the matter is as I stated earlier Hen hackle is an extremely hard sell. Whiting Farms was giving Hen Capes and Saddles away for free when you purchased a Hebert Pro Grade cape just a few years ago until they depleted their thousands of unsold overstock. So I would think that it is "good business" to focus on products that pay the bills instead of costing you money. That's how companies stay in business instead of going bankrupt.
As far as quality dry fly hackle availability my shop was loaded with capes last season and it will be this season as well as hen capes. Plenty of dry fly hackle to be had even down to size 28. All sold at suggested retail price. Two seasons ago I had a wall of saddles at most times it was 5 to 10 deep in all colors.They were a slow sell compared to capes. In fact capes out sold saddles 3 to 1 until the feather craze started. The feather craze changed the playing field. At that point what are hackle "peddlers" to do ,continue to sell feathers to people who are paying 3 to 10 cents a feather who then turn around and sell them for 50 cents to $5 a feather before it hits the end user? Continuing to sell them cheap is just plain bad business and dumb.
It seems to me that in general people tend to think of Fly Fishing and Fly tying as an altruistic pastime and many ways it is. It is one of the appealing aspects of the pastime. On the other hand there is a fishing industry, this industry supplies fishermen with the wares to participate in their fishing pastime and most do it without much of a profit margin. They toil long hours and most teetering on keeping their doors open and employees employed. If someone's hard work and dedication to their craft results in a unexpected windfall don't begrudge them their day in the sun, they've earned it in spades. We should salute them, after all it is the American Dream and what makes this country and the free world great.
I'll choose not to comment on Denny or Conranch hackle.
peace out
Jim