FLYMPH FORUM

* please note * This thread will make more sense with the up-front information that the hackle material line originally referred to a feather from the scalp of a male drake...



Flushed Wet
Hook: Kamasan B175 #14
Thread: Danville Flymaster 6/0, scarlet
Hackle: Iridescent feather from scalp of a male ringneck pheasant
Tail: Hackle barbs, dark grey
Abdomen: Fluey hackle barbs from base of stem, and tying thread, twisted
Thorax: Argentinean hare, dark grey, sparse

Cheers,
Hans W

Mike,

I was given a packet with a number of the feathers. They range in size, from #18-#12.

Cheers,
Hans W

Mike,

Before I seal this 'contract', here is the caveat

I received the feathers in an unmarked ziploc - I am pretty certain these feathers are from the scalp of a mallard drake - but until such time I have plucked myself, I have to build in a small margin of error. Fair warning...

Cheers,
Hans W

PS I will take a picture of the feathers and post later

Mike,

Here is a picture of the feather in question.

Looking at the structure close up I am beginning to waver... and am starting to think this feather may more likely be found on the neck of a peacock, not a drake. What do you, or the other folks here, think?



Cheers,
Hans W

I have used the Mallard scalp feathers you are initially thought those feathers were Hans and they are a little different. I'll post a pic later when I do a macro session..

The scalp and neck feathers of pheasants and a number of some other birds are quite useful.. as you no doubt know! For instance the neck feather which makes up the ring on the ring necked pheasant is greenish with a white tip. A nice feather. There are also some olive hued feathers on the upper neck/head too which are useful.

Mike,

I do not think pigeon is a likely candidate. The structure/texture of these feathers is quite distinct, and different from any pigeon feather I have handled.

Cheers,
Hans W

Here tis. A couple of quick and dirty shots of mallard neck/head and some indiv. feathers.





You can see they are a lot different from what you have Hans. I would suggest you are right in that yours are Peacock. Would be reasonably rare to find Peacock neck feathers as they are not likely to be a "regular" hackle. They are wild in some parts of NZ but alas not my part, o/w I'd be out there now looking for one as it's game bird season. What you have there is a nice looking feather!

Apologies and entirely off topic (sort of..) but here is a neck/head skin of a common ring tailed pheasant. As you can see there is a marvellous almost emerald coloured hue to the feathers up on the neck. And you can see the olive hued feathers on the side, plus the ring neck feathers.







I would certainly suggest that they have been identified by someone before me as potential fish taking feathers. The feathers just scream "USE ME" when you look at them. To be brutally honest I have tied a number of flies with the feathers shown, but not as yet used them often - a couple of fish seemed to like 'em. As far as wee wets are concerned, I was primarily in a bit of a Spur Winged Plover phase this season!

BTW: I have just learned a wee lesson: After taking pictures of skins - don't leave them where a Cocker Spaniel can find them. The Little Trickster just chewed the pheasant neck to bits!!! An absent moment. My fault entirely......

Yeh, he is supposed to, but Boris has always had a mind of his own... It was actually quite funny as his older companion - Caspar (now 13) floundered over to the scene of devastation, had a sniff and looked at Boris and sort of "grumpft" (as only older Cockers can do) at him in quite a disdaining superior sort of way. Boris - tail between his legs trotted off and hid under the bed. He is still there actually, sadly peering out with those big brown eyes they have. He knew what he had done (but he does not know I have several more skins.... so no huge drama)

But English Cockers are like that. Full of personality, mischief and conversation.

Anyway I digress...

Sorry I mean't necked - not tailed...

The Pheasant we have introduced here in NZ from the UK decades ago is commonly called the "Ring Necked Pheasant" presumably because of the white ring around the neck of the male. I assumed they are the most common of the pheasants? Pheasants are neat birds and I always feel a bit sad when I knock one off (and yes I have been known in my youth to poach the odd one out of season but as a fly tier I felt that I had some sort of divine right. Well .... maybe not but I had to justify it somehow... and my Mum never complained too much about a roast pheasant for dinner.) but that they are good eating and they are one of the most versatile birds for us fly tiers.....

There is not much from a pheasant skin you cannot use and must rival the humble Partridge for all round usefullness (The most common local use is for the church window or alternatively the regular rump feathers used on the ubiquitous Mrs Simpson - probably the most effective "Killer" style streamer there is.)

Johnno,

A couple of the feathers in my packet do feature this white edge depicted in your image



It may yet be we may turn to the ringneck pheasant...

Cheers,
Hans W

Well Hans, I guess a peacock is sort of an elaborate big pheasant..... so still a bit right!

Anyway you will find the white tipped feathers give an interesting look to a fly...