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Old 29-04-2008, 08:22 PM
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Default flytying capes...

Hi folks.. Im new to flytying, even though i have been fishing for 20 years.. I am trying to get some capes

apparently there is huge variation in quality and costs so i would rather get them online where they may be cheaper.. but i want them to be good quality...

I have been checking sportsfish.co.uk... and they have a few options with capes

http://sportfish.co.uk/products/3449...6_Hackles.html

The following capes are chinese dyed capes

http://sportfish.co.uk/product/33806...ock_Capes.html

these are pretty cheap at 10 pounds..

I need a variety of capes for all sorts of wet flies and nymphs...

Im thinking of ordering several different colours...
would these do the business?

lastly.. does anyone know any irish suppliers? i have tried irishflycraft...

http://www.irishflycraft.com/stg/pub...&gallery_num=4

but he has had problems getting good quality capes...

would be grateful of any advice...

cheers
John
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Old 29-04-2008, 08:44 PM
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Default not good capes???

John, with respect, please let where you get better value than that
I mean better value dry fly capes than Collins..


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Last edited by RoyChristie; 29-04-2008 at 08:53 PM.
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Old 29-04-2008, 09:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RoyChristie View Post
John, with respect, please let where you get better value than that
I mean better value dry fly capes than Collins..


Roy
Hi roy, cheers for your post..I agree it does seem like good value...

and the chinese capes at 12 euros seem to be a steal too.. but as i said irishflycraft seem to have a problem with supplying the chinese dyed capes.....

Are these chinese dyed capes so cheap because they arent good quality capes for tying?? or would they be good enough?


one last thing, there are collins saddles for 20 euros and collins necks for 25 euros. .whats the difference>???
http://www.irishflycraft.com/tying-m...als-page.html#
cheers
John

Last edited by JJ O Malley; 29-04-2008 at 09:16 PM.
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Old 29-04-2008, 09:33 PM
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If you're looking for quality capes I'm happy to recommend the following Ebay seller in the US.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Jims-Custom...Q3amesstQQtZkm

Excellent prices and quality and great delivery times from the US.
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Old 29-04-2008, 09:48 PM
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I am also looking for some capes and came across these on the bay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-ASSORTED-AA...QQcmdZViewItem

anyone tried them... must be worth a punt for £1.40 each...
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Old 29-04-2008, 09:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lighthouse View Post
If you're looking for quality capes I'm happy to recommend the following Ebay seller in the US.

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Jims-Custom...Q3amesstQQtZkm

Excellent prices and quality and great delivery times from the US.
cheers Lighthouse..sounds like a good source of capes.. I will buy some for sure...

are you on about the WHITING FARMS AMERICAN HACKLE HEN CAPES? are these good for wets/ nymphs? would they be good for drys??

pardon my ignorance..
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Old 29-04-2008, 09:54 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ickypimp View Post
I am also looking for some capes and came across these on the bay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-ASSORTED-AA...QQcmdZViewItem

anyone tried them... must be worth a punt for £1.40 each...
cheers for the reply Ickypimp..


almost hard to believe... how are they so cheap??
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Old 29-04-2008, 10:15 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishing 4 life View Post
are you on about the WHITING FARMS AMERICAN HACKLE HEN CAPES? are these good for wets/ nymphs? would they be good for drys??

Generally speaking Hen Hackle is used for wets / nymphs but for dries you'd be looking at the Cock Hackle necks or saddles. The descriptions usually state 'what they're good for'.

Dry fly hackles are characterised by long slim hackle feathers where the individual fibres are shiny and spiky. Hen hackles for wet flies are more often shorter, more blunt and oval in shape and their fibres are soft and webby.

Cock Hackle
Click the image to open in full size.

Hen Hackle
Click the image to open in full size.
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Old 29-04-2008, 10:37 PM
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Default Value for money

John ,
if you search the net - necks vs saddles.. you will find that necks tend to vary from tiny at the top of the head to large at the shoulder. These are suitable for tiny to huge dry flies
Saddles tend to be of uniform size in the top genetic product eg 14+16 or 12+14 or 16+18 with a few outside that range

If you want to tie lots of different sizes, get a neck.
If you tie commercially and want 14-16 get a suitable saddle.

The problem your friend will encounter with chinese hackle is due to import restrictions from the far east due to bird flu; and with finding consistent quality in that product. He will then have to take cream/white capes and dye them to our preference. These are generally used for salmon flies in any case, so are really not what you'd want for trout dry flies. They are however just what you would want for salmon flies and lake flies.

Genetic capes from the US have no such problem, they are easily controlled re- quality and uniformity and are generally available.
The Collins necks are a steal at that price. The quality is excellent in my view.
The grade 3 is excellent! buy one and if you don't like I'll take it off you at cost+postage.

I would forget all about the assorted dozen from ebay, you want to handle the goods or seriously trust the supplier.
Considering that - the link to Jim's custom flies as posted by Lighthouse should take you to Jim Slattery, whom you should be able to trust implicitly, as you can trust Cookshill and the products of Mr Collins and Mr Whiting.
These guys are trying to build and/or maintain a reputation, thus they want you to be happy so you return to the shop.

Enough from me, - don't spend too much
Buy a grizzly dyed golden olive, a badger and a red game/coachman neck, if these are just for you... tie some flies and do some good fishing.

All the best from an Antrim man in London,
Roy


Quote:
Originally Posted by flyfishing 4 life View Post
Hi roy, cheers for your post..I agree it does seem like good value...

and the chinese capes at 12 euros seem to be a steal too.. but as i said irishflycraft seem to have a problem with supplying the chinese dyed capes.....

Are these chinese dyed capes so cheap because they arent good quality capes for tying?? or would they be good enough?


one last thing, there are collins saddles for 20 euros and collins necks for 25 euros. .whats the difference>???
http://www.irishflycraft.com/tying-m...als-page.html#
cheers
John
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Old 29-04-2008, 10:45 PM
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Default nope

ickypimp, you might get two decent capes out of fifty in the bargain buckets.
On the other hand you may see none. The latter scenario is more likely
I really would not bother unless I could examine the neck and most likely it is a reject.
What these are good for is locating rare colours - you just might find a sweet honey dun or a rusty .
I would not bet on that... not that I gamble anyway.

Go to that Irish site and grab a Collins. For the dosh you cannot lose.

Roy


Quote:
Originally Posted by ickypimp View Post
I am also looking for some capes and came across these on the bay...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/10-ASSORTED-AA...QQcmdZViewItem

anyone tried them... must be worth a punt for £1.40 each...
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