Soft Hackle Flies

[roberts618]

I just got my Spartan vise about a week ago.  It runs circles around the $10 vise I started with about six months ago.

I live in MI and soft hackle flies work well at times with our trout.  I am interested in a source of partridge feathers for soft hackle flies.  Does anyone have a good source (vendor)?  I am torn with buying small quantity, half skin or full skin. Any advice?

[fasterfish]

Go to Moscow Hide and Fur.  They sometimes sell whole skins for just about the price that you would pay for a partial quantity.

Randy

[Bamboo Addict]

Roberts,
Had to see if I could help seeing how we might be kin some where way back. Anyway, full skin if you can. Most fly shops can get them. Have your local shop contact Cascade Crest in Oregon, they have the best I have found so far.(Dry skins not oiley like so many). There are a lot of on line sources for them.  Orvis carries them. (and I do know they come from CC ) If you need more help or can't find them PM me and I will get you one.
David

[OneStoneFly]

I just got my Spartan vise about a week ago.  It runs circles around the $10 vise I started with about six months ago.

I live in MI and soft hackle flies work well at times with our trout.  I am interested in a source of partridge feathers for soft hackle flies.  Does anyone have a good source (vendor)?  I am torn with buying small quantity, half skin or full skin. Any advice?

I too lived in MI, and you're right, soft-hackle flies work well there.  As for a source of good soft-hackle, try Stone River Outfitters in NH.  Great materials and great people.  Call them, ask for Dan Fitzgerald, describe what you want, and he'll get you what you need.

[Philip M]

If I can give any advise, go for either a half skin or a whole skin. There is no point in buying a package of partridge feathers unless you are just wanting to tie up a few flies. Usually those packages are garbage, they often have many unusable feathers for soft hackles and often few feathers in desirable sizes. I bought a bag once and then bought a skin after dealing with the bag for a few days. I used all the partridge bag feathers for legs on nymphs. The skin is superior because of the variety.

I hope this helps.

[OneStoneFly]

If I can give any advise, go for either a half skin or a whole skin. There is no point in buying a package of partridge feathers unless you are just wanting to tie up a few flies. Usually those packages are garbage, they often have many unusable feathers for soft hackles and often few feathers in desirable sizes. I bought a bag once and then bought a skin after dealing with the bag for a few days. I used all the partridge bag feathers for legs on nymphs. The skin is superior because of the variety.

I hope this helps.

I second wholeheartedly this suggestion.  Get whole skins only!

[VERN-O]

Did someone say softhackles?.......go a whole skin of partridge for sure.....try Mike Hogue at www.eflytyer.com

Also some other great options are Whiting Farms coq de leon and brahman hen.....also if you have a gun go shoot a starling for tying small soft hackles 

I tie a lot of softhackles so if you have any questions or need help....let me know!!!!

[VERN-O]

some stuff to get you thinking 

[gertjan]

I would go for the complete skin too. There is such a great variety in colors and textures and sizes on a complete skin! There is a difference in skin between male and female birds however....
I was lucky to order with friend, so we ordered two skins : both male and  female skin. The company we ordered it from was so good to make two packages, each containing a half male and a half female skin. There really is a difference between them , however slight.
I ordered from Cookshill in England. http://www.cookshill-flytying.co.uk/
I really love those soft hackled flies/ spiders....... i will add a pic of one of my partridge and orange"s



TL Gertjan

[Sinister Spey]

Soft hackles are the best for swinging and I to live in Michigan and they work very well.

I almost always buy full skins since they are not to exspensive and you get such a choice of different size feathers,

I tie soft hackles with the following.

Partridge
Grouse
Starling
Brahma
Green Pheasant
Peacock breast feathers
E. Goose

There are so many different ways to tie soft hackles and fish them as well. If you get a chance and find any soft hackle books by Nemes, pick it up you will not  regret it.

Sinisterspey