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Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 5:12 am
by Donald Nicolson
There are many much neglected patterns of spiders using cock-hackles. The best source is West Country Spiders on my web-site - http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page110.html
Some of them are still well known patterns, but there are quite a few obscure and forgotten flies.
Re: Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 6:17 am
by DUBBN
I use some India rooster instead of hen on a few patterns. The trout have not noticed.
Re: Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 9:30 am
by hankaye
Donald, Howdy;
That's a great set of flies you tied, I like the last one, the March Brown best.
Thanks for the link and thanks for getting your site back online again.
hank
Re: Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2014 10:07 pm
by Old Hat
I'm the same Dubbn. I use genetic hen capes or India rooster capes for most of my wet flies that I want some stiffer hackle on. I also use a lot of genetic hen cape for many dry flies. I just can't see spending the money on dry fly hackle for utility purposes.
Re: Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:30 am
by Eric Peper
I have Collins and Whiting hen capes that have stiffer, less "webby" hackle than the old Chinese and Indian rooster necks I used for tying dry flies back in the '70s when I started tying.
Eric
Re: Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 1:21 pm
by Mataura mayfly
I use a lot of "low grade" farmyard Rooster, often from cull birds that are younger than two years old, very hen like immature feathers.
"Back in the 70's"......... I was starting school!
Re: Using Cock Hackles
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2014 4:37 pm
by Donald Nicolson
These are exactly the hackles used in the 1870s by the Victorian fly-dressers,
that is all they could get. Make the most of the barn-yard rejects, they are resource not many people
have access to.