FLYMPH FORUM

In the spirit of the trimmed hackles of the spiders from John Shaner's collection, I tied a dozen little caddis patterns using grouse hackles that would have been too large. I have no doubt they will work as well and they don't look as odd as I expected once they were in the box. I tied some grouse and orange flies in a #16 but the thickness of the hackles barbs seemed too overwhelm the body. Not to mention the grouse hackles tend to remarry too easily adding to the effect. A different hackle selection would work out fine, I just have to revisit the spiders.

Red Grouse, trimmed to length, hare blend pre-spun on straw (#2) Pearsall's silk.

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Nice! As for the re-marrying tendency, I read somewhere about spey fly tiers "burning" various types of feathers to prevent this. Does anyone know how this works?

Hi Bill,

Goose body feathers are split and "burned" by bleach, then stabilized in baking soda and water for Spey-type hackles as you suggested. Similar to burning the flue from peacock herl with bleach, your mileage may vary. I have purchased bleached and dyed goose feathers for steelhead flies. Nothing special in my opinion, and I'd rather use pheasant rump hackles.

I'm unsure what the treatment would do to William's grouse feathers.

Tim

Thanks, guys. The marrying of the hackle barbs isn't really an issue on this set of flies and I could probably find another feather not the skin that will work out for spiders. I'm not familiar with the techniques you guys are describing that wouldn't damage the hackle. The more I look at these trimmed hackled spiders the more I'm looking forward to fishing them, just because it seems defiant and connected to something I really appreciate.

w