hackle advice please

[greyhoundgirl]

Hi all,
have been having a go at foam daddies today. tied up a load of legs first (almost need to pop out and shoot a pheasant as i wrecked so many - still got the hang of it eventually). Getting the hackle right is a bit problematical tho. Lureflah feathers in a small pack turn out quite sparse, nothing like as thick on the bought daddies i have. Can anyone tell me what i should be using to get it right? Shame i can'y post a pic as i'm really quite pleased with these first efforts, not perfect but still quite fishable i think.
By the way, i decided to buy a cheap 99p craft packet of foam - 12 sheets, 6 colours 2mm thick - seems just the job. Put flies in water and did my best to drown em but standing up pretty well to initial tests...hope it's the same at the bank.
grey

[dabhoy]

It sounds like you are getting on reasonably well but Im afraid the 1st thing I would do is take the packet of Lureflash hackles and drop them in the bin as imo they are ****. You dont need to get genetic capes for the hackle and could just go with some cheaper chinese capes you wont get as many usable feathers but they are good value over all.

[flytier07]

I find Chris at Lathkill does small packets of genetic hackles and they won't cost a bomb, either. Friendly helpful service, too and his indian cock capes are top quality at less than a fiver each or five for £10.95.

[g1zmo]

Have a look at the hen capes on ebay. there's a great range and some good prices.

[shpeil]

On a foam daddy, I reckon I can do without the hackle for floatation purposes but I usually just add a couple of turns of hen to add a bit of movement.

[greyhoundgirl]

Thanks for all the responses guys - a meber has kindly offered to donate some
Shpeil, yes they do float nicely without but i thought it would look more natural to the fish with a reasonable bit of hackle?
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[kenster]

Grey where did you get the foam from? cheers jon

[greyhoundgirl]

Originally Posted by kenster

Grey where did you get the foam from? cheers jon

PM sent Jon - for anyone else it's discount uk
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[shpeil]

Not sure about looking more natural with a bit of hackle... crane flies tend not to have short legs at the front. That said, I would doubt that fish care much about anatomical correctness.

[greyhoundgirl]

I'd like to say a big thanks to Christy27 for sending me some capes and wings, plus instructions on how to upload photos. A really nice guy, thanks it is realyy appreciated, and by the way much better stuff than that lureflash stuff i tried
grey