Using Cock Hackles

[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.

[DUBBN]

I use some India rooster instead of hen on a few patterns. The trout have not noticed.

[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

[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.

[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

[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!

[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.