Alternatives to Hackle on Dry Flies???

[pmjasper]

Hi guys. Well I'm in the process of building up my fly boxes with various mayfly nymphs, emerger and soon will be starting on dries. My question is, is that when I look at dry flies, a lot seem to use the Catskill method of hackle wrapped around the shank, however, in order to get different hackle in various sizes (22's-14's) and various colors (grizzly, dun, etc.) the cost at $10-$15 a pack would quickly add up. Since I'm just starting out, I was wondering if perhaps there are other alternatives to purchasing all the different hackles in the various sizes. Any insight would be appreciated.

[FK]

Why focus on Catskill style of flys? Many productive patterns do not use construction via wrapped on the hook shank feathers.

CDC

Deer Hair

Soft Hackle (with grease flotant)

Foam

Synthetic Hair Wings

In addition, nothing wrong with using oversized hackle and trimming the botttom.

Regards,
FK

[AaronJasper]

Two words... Rabbits feet.

[FK]

Thanks Aaron,,,,,how could I forget one of the best materials.

Regards,
FK

[pmjasper]

I'll have to investigate the different materials out there. I want to say I'm not cheap but at $15 a pop for individual hackle packs, it can get pretty expensive. If were to get a pack of grizzly hackle in sizes 22, 20, 18, 16, 14 and 12, that would be approzimately $90, and that's just for grizzly hackle. Now throw in all the different colors needed for various dries and you're into some money. I was hoping that there might be a cheaper but still effective alternative to tying different dry flies. I purchased some calf hair, dear hair and para post wing material and plan to mess around with a few patterns to start. The thing I like about those materials are that they can be readily adaptable to different sized hooks. I figured since I'm starting out I'd ask some of the more experienced tiers. Thanks all.

[alanb_ct]

Sorry I am late to this discussion. When I started tying I bought an assortment of good quality hackle and spent a lot of money. As I evolve, I use less and less. Now, the only pattern I consistently still use hackle for is a Red Quill parachute spinner I tie for the Housatonic spring. Once in a while, I will tie an Elk Hair caddis and give it a few wraps of brown palmered near the eye, a floating ant in the summer or a Griffith's gnat with a couple grizzly wraps. That's about it.

Most of my flies for near or above the surface use Coastal Deer Hair, bleached or regular for the wings. I think they are more effective flies anyway. You may want to read or borrow the book "Hatches" by Caucci and Naustasi, to see what I am talking about.

[Brookie]

I will second what Aaron said about Rabbit's foot - specifically showshoe rabbit. This stuff floats like a cork. As a matter of fact, if you pull the fly under the surface, it will pop back up, which may be useful when the fish are keying on emergence behavior. The classic showshoe rabbit fly is the Usual - a Fran Betters original. I'm sure if you google it, you will find a recipe. It's a very easy tie and if you tie it in various sizes or colors, you will cover many of the mayflies out there. You can also tie the wing in ala caddis style.
It floats with the body in the film, so I think the fish see it as an emerger.

Remember to grease it up well and you will be amazed by how well this stuff floats. Plus, it's cheap, especially when compared to high priced dry fly hackle.

I'm with Alain in that when I started to seriously get into tying, I bought a bunch of pricey necks. I rarely use them now, unless I'm tying something like an Ausable Wulff or a Stimi. Search around and get a couple different colors - I recommend natural (which is a dirty grey to whitish, depending on the actual foot) olive, and tan.

[alanb_ct]

My advice would be that if you still wanted to buy a few capes, buy the good quality half capes in four colors: black, brown, grizzly and dun. It's best to buy feathers from a shop, so you can look through what they have available, since there is huge variability in quality. Each cape will let you tie hundreds of flies and these are the most common colors.

[pmjasper]

Is the hair off of the rabbit's feet easy to work with? Do you just cut the hair off the foot and tie it in comparadun style? Any problems using it with slightly larger flies?

[AaronJasper]

Its very easy to work with. Yes you tie it c dun style. You want to get the fluffy underfur. You can tie flies from a size 28 to a size 8 with it. The best part is that you can tie it long and clip it. The other great thing is that its really inexpensive and it comes in many colors and shades.