Jungle cock eyes

[campsiefisher]

Probably a question more suited to the constant tiers on here, i need some for tying, Dabblers and buzzers to start with, i never fish anything larger than a size 12, am i looking at extra small or XXS, and any recommended dealers ? are veniards the better to buy etc ?.. Thanks in advance for any help.

Best regards
Jim

[steve collyer]

If I were you, I'd get a full cape off ebay.
You can get a good one for around £40, eg:

Jungle cock cape GRADE AA.... | eBay

Then just carefully split & trim the medium & large eyes & you have doubled your stock

[campsiefisher]

Hi steve, many thanks for your answer most appreciated

I have viewed recent threads with similar posts, and granted i may be better off with a cape, it's one of the avenues i am exploring, however i'd still like to find out which size would be best to use for 12/14/16 flies/buzzers/nymphs, either Small/XS/XXS ... just in case i decide to go down that route.

Best regards
Jim

[steve collyer]

I'd suggest that the feathers generally break down as follows:
XL = Salmon wing bases
L = Salmon cheeks
M = Lure/streamer cheeks
S = size 10/12 wets
XS = Size 12/14
XXS = Tiniest feathers suitable for 14 or smaller
Though you're at the mercy of what different people view the various size feathers.

[campsiefisher]

Perfect Steve, you're a gentleman and a scholar, cheers

Best regards
Jim

[harveyangling]

As Steve Said, use the larger hackles as 'splits' when you have used your share of cape, sell it to someone for Salmon Flies (assuming you have no further use)

[ruby pennel595664]

Jungle cock looks very nice on the flies we tie and I have used it on both salmon and trout patterns. BUT I am not convinced that the fish respond any better to flies that have jungle cock than they do to Plain patterns.

I think it is possible that jungle cock catches more fishermen than fish, is it worth the extra expense?

[shuck raider]

There is no substitute for natural jungle cock. Often when on the retrieve in lough-style fishing you can see the JC cheeks on a top dropper fly before you can see the actual fly itself, there is a luminescence like nothing else in fly-fishing.

There is also a confidence thing going on as well, at least with me there is. I have a lot of faith in natural JC cheeks on a lough fly.

Oh, and anyone who lashes out megabucks on a JC cape without first handling it has more money than sense IMHO