Capes/Saddles help

[123jc]

Hi, looking for some advice, I only started tying a few weeks ago and I'm looking to buy my first decent cape/saddle, I've searched the Forum and done a bit of Googling but I'm still not sure whether I'd be better with a saddle or cape, or what producer Whiting, Metz, etc. The flies that I'll mainly be tying to start with are the Griffiths Gnat size 16/18 maybe 20 and Klinkhammers size 14/16, maybe 12.

I'm also hoping to tie some spiders size 12, 14 to try on the wild brownies on my local club reservoir, I've no idea what the best cape/saddles to use for these. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks Craig

[Scratch]

Probably better off with a genetic neck (cock) for your Griff's. Personally, I don't think hackle quality is that critical for the Klink, so may as well just use the same neck as for the Griff's - you'll be able to cane the lower part for your Griff's, and the middle third for your Klinks. Grizzle would be a good colour for both flies.

Hen for the spiders.... any old sh!te will do

[Hardyreels]

Hi Craig,

Over the years I have collected a lot of Metz capes and a few from Hoffman. Both are good materials but still you must choose the grade to buy. I have a both grade 1 necks (when I was flush) and grade 2. I know now some producers have 4 different levels of quality in their capes and I would stay toward the top if you can swing it. I only ever bought one saddle and found it not to my liking for tying dries and the feathers not what I want for my streamers either so I don't advise saddles.

Good luck with the choice,

Ard

[Brit in a Bothy]

Craig,

Contact Steve at Cookshill fly tying. Tell him what you want to tie and the sizes, he will sort you out with the appropriate capes / saddles.

He has done it for me on a few occasions always with excellent results.

Nigel

[Clansman]

Originally Posted by Brit in Bahrain

Craig,

Contact Steve at Cookshill fly tying. Tell him what you want to tie and the sizes, he will sort you out with the appropriate capes / saddles.

He has done it for me on a few occasions always with excellent results.

Nigel

I would go along with the recomedation for Cookshill Fly Tying.

In my opinion the best tying materials and the help that Steve will give you is second to none.

[christy27]

I have heard only good things about Cookshill and many times over. However, I would like you to consider adding Phil at The Fly tying Boutique to your short list.
I recently acquired my first proper cape from FTB. I asked for a grizzle with lots of black bars close together as recommended by Oli Edwards in his Essential Patterns dvd to tie a Griffith's Gnat. Needless to say that is exactly what arrived.

Chris

[minitrail]

I have to agree here, Cookshill have always excelled themselves, just tell Steve what you are wanting to tie and he'll sort the rest.

His turn around time is pretty good too, Mine usually takes two working days but at this time of year, it would obviously take a little longer

[North Country Angler]

Be careful with saddles; the hook size range of hackle available from a saddle is usually pretty limited. Great if you're tying on a couple of hook sizes only, but not so great if you want to tie a variety of patterns and styles in a range of sizes. A cape is the better bet for the latter option.

That said, if you want to bash out a rake of size 18-20 Griffs or similar, then a quarter whiting saddle will last you a long long time.

Scratch is quite correct about hackle quality and klinks. My most successful klinks/paras etc have been tied with a sparse leggy hackle rather than the densely barbed top quality stuff that you often see used.

Good luck,
M

[123jc]

Thanks for the advice.

Craig