Hackle Shortage

[Silver Creek]

My apologies if this has been posted in another section. I tried to get some Eurohackle and could not from one of my suppliers.

http://www.anglingtrade.com/2011/02/...gone-tomorrow/


http://www.finefeatherheads.com/

[FK]

This was discussed at Somerset last month,,,,many western fly shops are having their Whiting supply bought out by hair salons.

Here in CT we have a fad with many young women using Flashabou type mylar for hair extensions.

Like so many female fads,,,,, this will change next year.

Regards,
FK

[Troutastic]

Haha oh yeah this stuff is getting BIG in Colorado.... All the grizzly hackle is getting bought up by hair salons and charging something ridiculous like 10-15 bucks a feather!!!!

I know a few lady friends in Denver that have gotten them.

[tim_y]

My wife was watching something the other day, and I swear I saw a grizzly hackle in the girls hair. I guess I was right.

I saw an article about this on midcurrent yesterday. Whiting doubled the price to one of their vendors because she wanted so much quantity, fly shops are getting cleared out.

Stock up now.

[Davyfly]

That's the truth. I was at Wapsi last week they are out of stock of capes and saddles and they are the largest supplier in the country.

Now think this one also. It is not only the home fly tyer that will see shortages, the bulk of material goes to the commercial fly tying operations.
Will that increase the cost of commercial flies, it may well do for those that use genetic capes. I doubt those from India and China will be of interest for the fashion trade, hackles on these necks are short in length.

Guess its a good time to get into the genetic hackle business. Those farms must be running to the bank with the cash.
Some of the prices paid l have been told are unreal.

DW

[Silver Creek]

I posted this on another BB and a fly shop owner said that Whiting was building another production barn. I have not heard that anywhere else.

I'm pretty much set except for Eurohackle saddles to tie the larger flies.

[tim_y]

@ Davy,

Here is the link that I was talking about: http://www.anglingtrade.com/2011/02/...gone-tomorrow/

My Catskill styles always looked rough, so looks like its back to the comparaduns.

[cchobot]

It is pretty crazy. I work at a shop here in RI and we get on average probably about 3 calls / day. Many customers want these feathers for flatwing saltwater patterns, but it's going to be near-impossible for awhile. We did however, find this great video to help us understand the fad in more detail:

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/19485702" width="400" height="225" frameborder="0"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/19485702">FineFeatherheads: Spring 2011</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4984665">Dakota Hills</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

It even inspired one of our own to attempt rocking the look:

[Silver Creek]

Here's where the Cree is going

[Silver Creek]

http://www.insidebayarea.com/california/ci_17565960