FLYMPH FORUM

Size 14

Grizzly hen hackle. I believe it is the least used, and most under rated hen hackle. I really enjoy using it.

DUBBN, Howdy;

Good stuff Wayne, really good stuff.

hank

DUBBN wrote:Size 14

Grizzly hen hackle. I believe it is the least used, and most under rated hen hackle.

I believe you're right. Nice use of it.

Wayne, I bet you are right, but possibly because it closely approximates Partridge?
These are a nice use though, kind of how I envision a Blue Wing Olive soft hackle- a pattern that does not see a lot of action over here.

Wayne - Your fly pattern makes a strong case, in favor of the use of grizzly hen hackle. Hopefully we see more examples of its use in the future.

Well done, sir!

Nice flees Dubbn. When I started fly tying, I bought two capes of unbranded grizzly hen. The 'black' part is more of a rich dark brown and the white kind of cream white and I use it sparingly, since I've never found as nice capes no more. This hackle is very much used in grayling 'fancy flies'.

dd

I have to admit there was a time when I tried to replace Partridge with Grizzly, and a few shades of Brahma hen. I learned the hard way, there is no substitute for partridge (in my opinion). That being said, there have been times when patterns with Grizzly hen could not be substituted with Partridge. The hen capes have their own merit, and I stopped trying to compare them to partridge.

There are a few drainages, the upper Gunnison River being one that Grizzly does very well for me. Especially with the Olives. I added a muskrat thorax to this pattern after I saw some other patterns displayed on this forum that had gray added. I can not see the addition of the muskrat being a negative, but, there was a time I thought I could substitute hen hackle for partridge and get away with it.

Thanks folks for the positive feed back.

I believe that you have made an astute observation, Wayne. I think the barring on both hen grizzly and Hun partridge gives the impression of movement in the water -- something that acts as a trigger to entice a fish to take. It is this impression of movement that has made both wood duck and rooster grizzly hackle indispensable for tying dry flies. As for comparing partridge and grizzly, my observation is that the barring on hen grizzly tends to be much wider than it is on partridge, so the effects may differ somewhat. Also, I think hen barbs tend to be a bit softer, therefore collapsing more readily.

Even Grizzly hen can be gussied up.

Fancy!