Troutnut.com Fly Fishing for Trout Home
User Password
or register.
Scientific name search:

> > flying materials



SayfuAugust 27th, 2012, 10:09 am
Posts: 560
Hope to accumulate some Ruffed Grouse feathers on Thurs. out here West. That's the opener for our Forest Grouse season. I see a supply house has Ruffed Grouse paired wings for sale, for tailing, legs, shellbacks. I've never used any for that purpose. I have body feathers around for my softhackles, and seldom use them preferring my Hun feathers instead.
PaulRobertsAugust 27th, 2012, 10:15 am
Colorado

Posts: 1776
I have a lot of grouse feathers -mostly ruffs, but some dusky's/blue's now. They are a very soft feather. I use them for legs, twisted bodies, and the aftershaft and "bou". I've use the tailfeathers to fletch arrows too.
SofthackleAugust 27th, 2012, 12:28 pm
Site Editor
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Hi,
Ruffed Grouse feathers are wonderful! There's many usable feathers including the tail. In the past, I've used these for a fly called the Breadcrust Nymph, but it's really a wingless wet.

http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/detail.cfm?parentID=86

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt

Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
SayfuAugust 27th, 2012, 1:31 pm
Posts: 560softhackle. Live and learn with this fly tier. I think I get my most uses for materials by reading the supply house descriptions of their materials, and uses. I get very tunnel visioned. I've shot lots of Ruffs, and throw in some body feathers in a bag, and that's it.
DUBBNAugust 27th, 2012, 5:58 pm
Colorado

Posts: 47
I had my chance to run over a Blue/Dusky a few weeks ago. I like their smaller wing feathers for an olive flymph that I use. I know the fish dont care if it's hen or grouse, but I like the looks of different feathers when I dress a Soft hackle pattern.
That being said, plane jane brown hen hackle is still my favorite.
It's OK to disagree with me. I can not force you to be right.
SayfuAugust 27th, 2012, 6:34 pm
Posts: 560
There is quite a distinction between a chicken hen feather, and wild bird feahers. The hen feather can disappear when wet where the wild bird feather retains its form. And that comes from Mike Lawson when he ties a spent caddis for example. He uses several matched partridge feathers for the wing pinched. Says to not use chicken hen feathers.
DUBBNAugust 27th, 2012, 7:13 pm
Colorado

Posts: 47
I guess I would have to say that when Mike Lawson can tell me exactly what a fish can actually see, I might listen to him. Until then, I will stick to hen feather when it suits me, not Mike.

It's OK to disagree with me. I can not force you to be right.
SayfuAugust 27th, 2012, 9:06 pm
Posts: 560
You missed the point. Mike is saying that wild bird feathers retain their form much better than the domestic chicken. Suit yourself on what you want to use.
EntomanAugust 28th, 2012, 4:52 am
Northern CA & ID

Posts: 2604
Dubbn & Sayfu -

I think it's possible that the two of you are working at cross purposes. Brown hen hackle (the genetic stuff sold in shops) is like soft rooster and doesn't have the nasty habit of "marrying" underwater with limp lifelessness. It happens to be my favorite for classic collared nymphs like the Prince and Zug Bug. Grouse, partridge & similar wild bird feathers have similar attributes. An often used "substitute" for partridge is what's usually referred to as "India Game Hen." It is a cool looking mottled feather on the neck but a relatively lifeless, soggy looking material in the water. It is India game hen that I believe Lawson was referring to.

I'd sure like to read Softhackle's opinion on the matter as our forum's resident expert on all things "soft hackle".

Regards,
"It's not that I find fishing so important, it's just that I find all other endeavors of Man equally unimportant... And not nearly as much fun!" Robert Traver, Anatomy of a Fisherman
Feathers5August 28th, 2012, 9:37 am
Posts: 287Hen Back does get clumpy when used for wet flies. It's very soft. I like something a little stiffer. Actually, I think India Hen Neck is stiffer. We need softhackle to weigh in concerning these feathers.
Bruce
SayfuAugust 28th, 2012, 9:54 am
Posts: 560
Actually, and the problem I have is memory, and the problem may be specific to the pattern....Lawson ties a spent caddis using a pair of hun hackle feathers back to back that will slightly splay out. He pinches them runs the off hand over them getting as much hackle into the wings as he can, and then applies them over the body. He told us that if you use those hen hackles (brown) as a substitute they tend to "disappear" in the water as apposed to the hun hackles. He then says that is the difference between wild birds, and the domestic hen. Also said he didn't know why. Maybe wrapping the feather as for a soft hackle is a different deal. ??
OldredbarnAugust 28th, 2012, 11:44 am
Novi, MI

Posts: 2608
I had my chance to run over a Blue/Dusky a few weeks ago.


Real "sporting" there, sport?

Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
SayfuAugust 28th, 2012, 12:29 pm
Posts: 560
I meant to say, "as apposed to the hen hackles, not hun hackles. Why? I think maybe because there is more length, underfiber that gets included in the Hun, verses the hen hackles. I looked at my hen hackle soft fiber backs, and a fairly big, longer feather does not have that long of fibers, as my fatter shaped Hun hackles...but just a guess.
DUBBNAugust 28th, 2012, 2:33 pm
Colorado

Posts: 47
I had my chance to run over a Blue/Dusky a few weeks ago.


Real "sporting" there, sport?

Spence


I didn't take the oppurtunity to do that. Just said I had the chance.

Real "BIG" of you to chime in, sport
It's OK to disagree with me. I can not force you to be right.
SofthackleAugust 28th, 2012, 3:44 pm
Site Editor
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540
Interesting!

I've used hen back, Partridge, Ruffed Grouse. I like them all for hackles. I love Coq de leon Hen hackles, especially the mottled type. Looks like Partridge, but you get smaller sizes.

Sayfu,
It takes a little practice to put that Breadcrust together, but I can tell you, that fly is murder.

Mark
"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt

Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
SayfuAugust 28th, 2012, 4:20 pm
Posts: 560
I definitely know of the Breadcrust, somewhat can picture it, and I think it is generally tied on a somewhat bigger hook, say #12..not #16's etc. I don't believe. I'll have to look it up. It is an oldie, but goodie going back some years I do believe.
SayfuAugust 28th, 2012, 7:31 pm
Posts: 560Softhackle. You are more articulate, and have more patience than I. I looked up the Breadcrust, and the directions for preparing the body quill. I immediately began thinking of a substitute.
SofthackleAugust 28th, 2012, 11:19 pm
Site Editor
Wellsville, NY

Posts: 540


Hook: Mustad 3399A #12
Thread: 8/0 Orange Uni Thread
Hackle: Partridge
Body: two feathers taken from the Bastard Wing area of the Partridge. They are stripped off on the darker side, leaving the other brown mottled side. These are then trimmed with a scissor, close to the stem. When wrapped the trimmed barbs should stand out as seen. Wrap one stem first, then go in-between the wraps to fill-in the gaps of the first stem.

Try this instead!

Mark

"I have the highest respect for the skilled wet-fly fisherman, as he has mastered an art of very great difficulty." Edward R. Hewitt

Flymphs, Soft-hackles and Spiders: http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/FS&S/index.html
SayfuAugust 29th, 2012, 10:07 am
Posts: 560
The directions I got were for the tail fibers, and to be soaked until wrapped but first split with a razor blade? I didn't quite understand the process, and they had pictures on how to, but that's nothing new for me.
Have you ever had any thoughts about tails as providing a camouflage for the hook? Years ago Borger made the comment that tails can possibly incorporate the hook into the profile, and not have the hook bend/point be a visible part of the profile. It has been in my mind ever since. I will try the your wing concept. I can do that.
SayfuAugust 29th, 2012, 11:54 am
Posts: 560Mark..Thanks for the pattern. I tied some up, and preparing the wing stem was a lot easier than the tail stem of the grouse. They look good, and I used one of my glass beads at the head..bought some "root beer" small beads from Cabelas recently.
Page:12

Quick Reply

You have to be logged in to post on the forum. It's this easy:
Username:          Email:

Password:    Confirm Password:

I am at least 13 years old and agree to the rules.

Related Discussions

TitleRepliesLast Reply
Re: Beadin the bugs
In Fly Tying by Sayfu
2Apr 5, 2015
by Lastchance
Re: imitation?
In Cheumatopsyche Caddisfly Pupa by Flytyer0423
4Oct 5, 2012
by Sayfu
Re: Partridge Under-Feathers
In Fly Tying by CAuletta
2Jun 7, 2012
by CAuletta
Re: Soft Hackles
In Fly Tying by OldHasBeen
17Nov 5, 2018
by Joerobert
Re: soft hackle wet
In Fly Tying by FredH
3Mar 24, 2011
by FredH
Re: Quill Gordon Wet
In General Discussion by Martinlf
12Mar 28, 2013
by Sayfu
Re: Fly patterns for midges
In General Discussion by Adirman
16Aug 20, 2011
by Sayfu
Re: Basic Cranefly Pattern
In Fly Tying by Goose
1May 27, 2011
by Goose
Re: I don't know how this slipped by me!!!
In Fly Tying by Oldredbarn
3Mar 20, 2013
by Sayfu
Re: knowing the bug cycle
In General Discussion by Sayfu
22Oct 29, 2011
by Entoman