mdh
Forum Member
Posts: 33
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 10:54:43 GMT
Post by mdh on Nov 25, 2009 10:54:43 GMT
Okay so I use veniards hackles from a packet at the moment but struggle to always have the right size to fit the fly I'm tying.
Can somebody provide me with an idiots guide as to what is the best option.
I'm confused between hen and cock hackles and also between neck and saddle capes.
If anybody can shed some light on this it would be much obliged.
cheers
matt
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 11:04:25 GMT
Post by macd on Nov 25, 2009 11:04:25 GMT
for simplicity in tying salmon flies the standard cock cape will cover most of the sizes you need from large shrimp flies and fox wing tubes to wee shrimps
i like hen capes for wound hackles on smaller flies - 12s and smaller.
i prefer necks, but lots of guys use saddles too.
but to get the ball rolling get some cock capes and you will feel your way from there
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sloggi
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Posts: 106
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 11:12:14 GMT
Post by sloggi on Nov 25, 2009 11:12:14 GMT
Matt - I tend to keep things pretty simple. I use cock hackles and buy capes usually from Whiting. I use hen hackles from Metz - I buy packs of individual feathers. I like to buy from the Caddis Fly Shop (google it)
For Ally's Shrimps, Ness Cs, Cascades, and Flamethrowers I use cock hackles with the occasional hen hackle for a bit more movement
For Monkeys, Cone flies, Scandi-style patterns I use hen hackles
I think PBPs are the only fly I use where I use both hen & cock hackles every time...
Necks or saddles - I'd always pick the one that looked to have the best overall quality
If ordering online or phone, then I'll make sure the other person knows they are for salmon flies only.
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mdh
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Posts: 33
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 11:14:41 GMT
Post by mdh on Nov 25, 2009 11:14:41 GMT
thanks guys.
my supplementry question is will I need to have more than one cape for salmon flies and trout flies?
cheers
Matt
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sloggi
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Posts: 106
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 11:26:03 GMT
Post by sloggi on Nov 25, 2009 11:26:03 GMT
thanks guys. my supplementry question is will I need to have more than one cape for salmon flies and trout flies? cheers Matt Others may be inclined to respond to the trout part of your question. For salmon, you will need black, orange, yellow. After a while you'll be longing for red, green, blue, purple, brown...and so it goes on until you open your box(s) to find a hideous collection of animal/bird body parts spilling out from every angle...
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acw
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Posts: 38
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 12:24:55 GMT
Post by acw on Nov 25, 2009 12:24:55 GMT
thanks guys. my supplementry question is will I need to have more than one cape for salmon flies and trout flies? cheers Matt Sadly a lot more than one, for salmon with a cross over into tainbow lures some dyed Chinese type capes in 3+ colours,then for the trout drys you will want good probably genetic capes in grizzle and red game to start ++++ all kinds of colours,then for the wet flys hen capes and some game hackles As Sloggi says it becomes a huge mass of fur and feather ,some of which will never hit the water!Some you cant find when you want it I am fairly sure if knowing what I know now ,I would financially be tempted to buy all my flys,but to get that special varient doing it yourself is the only way to go !
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mdh
Forum Member
Posts: 33
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 16:02:54 GMT
Post by mdh on Nov 25, 2009 16:02:54 GMT
thanks very much. I'll have to hope that I get some money for christmas and can afford to buy a few capes.
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CB
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Posts: 92
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capes
Nov 25, 2009 18:59:49 GMT
Post by CB on Nov 25, 2009 18:59:49 GMT
[...] and so it goes on until you open your box(s) to find a hideous collection of animal/bird body parts spilling out from every angle... But does it stop there? Oh no Sound advice already by the others. I'd like to add that if you only need small amounts of certain colours I found strung hackles to be a nice alternative. IMO there's no need to get the finest grade capes available for salmon flies. Sure it's nice but the difference in the final fly won't be as big as f.i. in a little dry fly so if you can't spend to much I'd look for decent quality and get a few different colours.
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