beginners stuff - hackle lenght

[fourmations]

hi all

ive just started tying after inheriting a veniards trout kit no1
its an old kit in a wooden box, god knows how old!

anyway, to the question......
the hackles all seem very long, there are four packs of hackles
and a cape or saddle (i cant tell, its labelled cock hackle)

im tying size 16's-20's dries and the hackles are too long
even the ones from the top of the cape/saddle
ive extracted a few of the right size but they are such a short feather
i cant get a few turns in

i it ok to trim to suit after tying or should i buy a particular cape
to get a suitable hackle for the sizes im doing

thanks a mill.

4

[maharg]

Feathers vary in size on indian and chinese capes. More large ones at the back and generally less smaller ones at the top.
A saddle may be a better buy if you tie only on a small range of hooks.
A good dealer will put you right, if you tell him what hook range you will be working in.

[shpeil]

Personally, I'd avoid cutting the hackle. Have no idea if the fish will care but to my eye it just looks rubbish.

Maharg is quite right that usually a saddle will tie a couple of sizes, and if you're only tying on hooks within a narrow size range, saddles are better value as they are more consistent in size. But the flu on most saddles will be too long for size 16-20. A typical saddle will tie size 8/10 or 10/12. It is claimed that Whiting Eurohackle saddles tie sizes 10 to 14. Whiting Midge Saddles, they say, will tie 16/18 with some size 20, but they might be hard to come by. I'm not aware of any coming in packets but a google might confirm that for you.

Otherwise, Whiting pro grade neck capes are just fine and dandy. The small feathers near the top of the neck are the ones you'd want for your small dry flies. These are "genetic" capes so have long feather stems relative to the flu length.

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PS Expect to pay more for genetic

[fourmations]

hi

thanks for the feedback lads
i got some metz micro dun hackles size 14 today and they are the job,
its a pack of about 6 very long thin, very light grey feathers

out of curiousity, can i dye them?

cheers