Hackle

Does anyone know where I can find some wide hackle that has a fair size small stem. I want to do some jigs like we did in the 50's to 70 or so. Today they grow the birds out so fast they don't have good feathers like the old days. These jigs are a easy tie and fish well, just run a wide hackle from front back to front and that's it. Even on a sickle hook they can go all of the way back to the bend as they nothing to get in way of hook set. Just feather it down even with your fingers and tie the inside bend of feather to the hook.

This I'm interested in seeing!

Larry you mean palmered hackle? I ask because I have been planning on tying some like that for a while now,just been too busy yo get it done. Still am though, LOL! My thought though was more like in between Neck Hackle and Fly tying type stuff that is so thin, but some streamer capes have a nice in between width so that is kind of what I was thinking, but I want the colors of some of my better stuff.

Also when you say wide, just how wide? Oh and also how long do you need it?

One thing that is hitting my mind is some soft hackle if you need it that wide?

Skip

I think what we used in the day was select marabou, and hackle was something that was limited in Texas inland back then. We for sure did not have palmered back then, as it was before the day of web sites and not many places to get stuff. How long just set how long the jig can be, any size will work and tied in like chenille but no tail except the feather flowing back over the area. It was a very good tight line jig. Its just a matter of getting the look and action with what ever can be found.

Think I need to add, with these jigs there was not a set way to do it, like now ever tier had his way and the size hook and feather would tell you how the best way was. It use to be you tied with what you had, I still go thru all feathers when I get them to resize for what they can be use for. I throw very little way.

Larry by Palmering I mean you just tie in the feather at the back of the hook and then wrap it forward to the head. This in flies is usually palmered over a body of chenille or something like that. Much like a Woolly Bugger Fly like the one I did back in 2007, see Pic. Now you can palmer back and forth to make it thicker.

Skip

That a very good jig, and a good color for fork right now. I think what I am going to have to do is tie some cross's of today and the old type. Think they just feed the birds out to fast to get good feathers today. I tie a great many jigs using #5 new age for body and then running a over lay of #2 new age chenille back over it counter wise that is palmered on with #2 hooks. A lot of people like them but I don't my self. The jigs look ok but not sure how strong they are.

Actually that is a fly and not a jig, but can do same thing on a jig. Try using either saltwater neck hackle or get some soft hackle as both are wider than most. For sure the soft hackle is really wide!

Here is soft hackle and you can get it at places like JS Flyfishing!
http://www.hareline.com/gs.html

Thanks Skip, this you have here is same type and from the same company they use down in the southern states for the local market. Have been told its best to get it by the cape in silver grade as it will tie better 50% on 4 hook with no tail and use some of the other with tail. And rest should do the same on #6 hook. This relearning after all of years is fun, but guess its time to see what the cost is. lol May try and use a spinner blade tail on a few of them.
I use jig for both fly's and jig's, to me the jig is front heavy and a fly weight is added where it works best but always on the #8 up #1 hooks. Never have used or tied any of those they use up north.

Usually capes with a grade like Silver is Rooster fly tying hackle and not wide, if you want a cape that has wider hackles then that would be a streamer cape. I have some of both right here in my room! I have more capes than I will ever use, something like 2 totes completely full of capes and saddles. I also have lots of hen capes as well! I would bet if we could talk same language on this I could point you in the right direction. I also have an account with Whiting so I can buy direct from them. On a cape there will be a lot of different width hackle.

Also the more wraps you need to make the longer the feather needs to be so if only a few wraps a hen hackle is really wide, but short!

Skip