Necks and Saddles?

[esmith3102]

Hello to everyone. I am a new fly fishermand and fly tier. I really enjoy tying. I do alot of nymphs and streamers. I am now ready to start doing alittle more in way of patterns. I gues what I need to know is what should I have on had for most soft hackle wets and a few dries. I really prefer nymph and midges but I think I will try some dries. I am not sure that I can afford to have every color, but i am sure that there is some colors you use more than others. Also what are the different applications for the saddles vs. necks?

I know that this question is pretty broad and not real specific but I am sure someone will know what i am trying to ask. Oh and I will be mainly tying for trout

I am moving to southwest Colorado and am very excited to hit up some good trout waters!

Thank You for any and all help and information!

[Ron Eagle Elk]

For soft hackles, it's hard to beat a partridge skin and maybe a starling skin. Those two birds make up most of my wet fly hackle. For dry flies I usually suggest a grizzly and a coachman brown. Some hackle suppliers will give you half necks at a reduced prpice.

Necks (or capes) have a larger range of feather than saddles giving you a larger variety of hook sizes to tie on. Saddles have longer feathers (you can get more than one fly per feather) but are more limited in feather sizes. If you tie a limited variety of hook sizes, a saddle may be your best choice.

Hope this is of some use to you.

REE

[scottflycst]

E-
REE's advice is good. I'd also add India hen backs, you can find them at your local fly shop. I tie alot of soft hackles with India backs and the fish like them well!
Scott

[Big Tuna]

Personally, I think grizzly is the most versatile color of hackle. Then I would go w/ brown or some shade of dun.

[Richard Olmstead]

A grizzly, brown, and medium dun will cover most situations for dry flies. Whiting half-capes are an economical way to get high-quality feathers that will last you until you are too far hooked on tying that money will no longer be an object (you may have to resort to robbing 7-11s by then, however, unless you are comfortably employed).

For soft-hackles, I'd also consider getting a hen cape or two (they are much less expensive than dry fly capes, which come from roosters). These have a lot of uses as collars on wets, soft hackles appended onto traditional nymph patterns (eg, soft hackle hare's ear), and flies such as flymphs. They come in a wide range of colors (natural and dyed).

I agree with Ron that partridge is the most versatile and beautiful bird for traditional soft-hackle patterns. I like starling, too, although I find it tough to tie with, because the feathers are small and the stems fragile. If you are a hunter, or know someone who is, grouse have excellent soft-hackle feathers and can be used for many of the patterns that call for partridge or as value-added soft hackles on nymph patterns.

Dick

[Charlie S]

I use Grizzly, Brown and Medium Dun on 90% of the flies I tie. If you know what hook size you will be using for the majority of the flies you will be tying a saddle is a great investment as long as you can make sure you get the right sized hackles...Whitings are great for this. I would stick with as good a neck (Whiting or equivilent) if you are tying a variety of sizes. As you tie more you can purchase more necks or saddles as you become more proficient at what you need.