Terminology of feathers and hackles - Could be very stupid questions.

[gersgraeme]

Hi,

Could you offer me some advice on potentially stupid questions, which I cannot find the answer to on google?

I am looking at tying some flies which require partridge hackles. These are all on wet flies. What is my best option for this I have saw a few choices? I have seen mainly

wings
feathers
hackles

They are all roughly the same price and no indication of size or amount in a packet. I was thinking that the name "neck hackles" implies it is what I require.

My follow on question is the difference between the feathers on the "wings" and just "feathers". Is the difference down to the sizes and the quality I will get. So I would get a bigger variety of sizes by purchasing "wings" and more feathers of a set size by purchasing "feathers"?

While I am asking stupid questions, what would be my best option if I was tying on partridge wings on a wet fly?

thanks

graeme

[thedeadskunk]

Your looking to purchase Partridge neck feathers( hackles) go here:
Cookshill Fly Tying Materials

Go here: Veniard Fly Tying and browse through the various materials Peter has for sale, you will not be able to purchase direct, but this site will give you an understanding of what's what.

Now go here and purchase this:

Fly-dressing materials / text by John Veniard ; drawings by Donald Downs ; with a foreword by Taff Price: Amazon.co.uk: John (1915-) Veniard: 9780876912676: Books

Fly-dressing materials / text by John Veniard ; drawings by Donald Downs ; with a foreword by Taff Price: Amazon.co.uk: John (1915-) Veniard: 9780876912676: Books

[gersgraeme]

Originally Posted by thedeadskunk

Your looking to purchase Partridge neck feathers( hackles) go here:
Cookshill Fly Tying Materials

Go here: Veniard Fly Tying and browse through the various materials Peter has for sale, you will not be able to purchase direct, but this site will give you an understanding of what's what.

Now go here and purchase this:
Fly-dressing materials / text by John Veniard ; drawings by Donald Downs ; with a foreword by Taff Price: Amazon.co.uk: John (1915-) Veniard: 9780876912676: Books

Thanks,

I will give cookshill-flytying a phone tomorrow and discuss it with them when I have a better idea of what I need.

Cheers for the recommendations.

graeme

[easker1]

The Book of the hackle by Frank Elder, easker1

[thedeadskunk]

Also, go to you tube and type in Dave McPhail
He will be a great help to your dressing instruction

Soft Hackle Fly Tying Materials - YouTube

Soft Hackle Fly Tying Materials - YouTube

Hope the video helps.

[arkle]

Save yourself lots of time & trouble by joining your local branch of the Fly Dressers Guild, see the section below for details of your nearest branch at Luggiebank

[gersgraeme]

Cheers for the video Thedeadskunk. I think I will wander to the libary tomorrow and try and get a hold of a book as I am beginning to get out my depth, either that or just stick to nymphs

I looked on google a while back for a club but I couldnt find any clubs in the Glasgow area Arkle. The one in Luggiebank is too far away from me. It takes me over an hour to get home from work then it would be another hour to get there (I work in the opposite side of the city from Luggiebank).

I can do the basics of tying like threading, the finishing etc and I have completed a few basics flies like diawl bach, ptn, and black pannel its just knowing what materials I am looking for when purchasing goods.

cheers,

graeme

[blaydon buzzer]

Originally Posted by gersgraeme

Hi,

Could you offer me some advice on potentially stupid questions, which I cannot find the answer to on google?

I am looking at tying some flies which require partridge hackles. These are all on wet flies. What is my best option for this I have saw a few choices? I have seen mainly

wings
feathers
hackles

They are all roughly the same price and no indication of size or amount in a packet. I was thinking that the name "neck hackles" implies it is what I require.

My follow on question is the difference between the feathers on the "wings" and just "feathers". Is the difference down to the sizes and the quality I will get. So I would get a bigger variety of sizes by purchasing "wings" and more feathers of a set size by purchasing "feathers"?

While I am asking stupid questions, what would be my best option if I was tying on partridge wings on a wet fly?

thanks

graeme

wing feathers tend to be more stiff, body feathers and neck are softer.. wings are for wet winged flies like butcher blae and black hope this helps you out a bit

[gersgraeme]

Originally Posted by blaydon buzzer

wing feathers tend to be more stiff, body feathers and neck are softer.. wings are for wet winged flies like butcher blae and black hope this helps you out a bit

cheers for that, it does give me a better idea. It will be a combination then I would need.

I will go down the library and try and order / pick up one of the books that was mentioned earlier.

[silver creek]

Here are a couple of references on the anatomy of feathers:

http://www2.norwich.edu/barnard/bi260/FEATHERS.pdf

All About Birds : Feather Structure