Kate MacLaren

[Watten Warrior]

Can anyone suggest a good quality hen cape for the head hackle of the Kate Maclaren. I have wasted alot of cash trying to get a good one but nothing fits the bill yet.

Cheers
WW

[morayflyfisher]

Chevron hackles,Christina Tooly,does really good hen capes which are the ones I use .

[weight_forward]

I use Indian hen for the head hackles on most of my Palmered flies. Does it need to be something special? If you want something a bit better quality I'd go for a Metz #2 hen neck.

Either way, have a chat with Gerry at Artifly, I'm sure he'll be able to sort you out.

All the best - Steve

[maharg]

On the original it clearly states brown HEN hackle. Many are tied with a cock hackle, good to see you are on the right track.

[balnacnoc]

Although I dont tie many traditionals these days I to find indian hen capes as good as anything for head hackles.
AB

---------- Post added at 08:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------

Originally Posted by maharg

On the original it clearly states brown HEN hackle. Many are tied with a cock hackle, good to see you are on the right track.

Was it not the other way around?

[maharg]

Originally Posted by allybally

Although I dont tie many traditionals these days I to find indian hen capes as good as anything for head hackles.
AB

---------- Post added at 08:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 AM ----------



Was it not the other way around?

No mate, black cock for the body, brown hen for the head hackle. Would inagine it would have been a fairly soft cock hackle though, certainly not a spiky genetic cock.
I think the genetic cock hackles are all wrong for these types of flies. They are to stiff and dont have a taper that the indian cock capes have.
Well thats my tuppence worth.

[Watten Warrior]

I agree that the genetic cock hackles are no use for wets.They dont give the movement required for wets. What colour is correct??? I have had most success with Chocolate brown.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by Watten Warrior

What colour is correct??? I have had most success with Chocolate brown.

Get the best of both worlds Alan.... I use furnace for mine...

[guest18]

Never seen it tied with the wire showing on the hook Scratch.

Is that to add weight to get it down deeper?

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by Pointy Shadow

Is that to add weight to get it down deeper?

No Pointy, it's oval tinsel... no weight in it really. It was just a little flourish thrown in for the hell of it! I don't know if you've ever noticed the same (but done with fine wire) on any old dressings of the Black Pennell? That's where I got the idea from. A couple of turns too many though on my Kate!