Hen Neck Hackles

Fused · 12-17-09, 08:38 AM

I'm trying out hen necks for tying wooly buggers. Supposedly, the fibers are more supple and give better movement in the water than dry fly hackles. My initial observation is that the overall feather length seems too short to wrap enough times and the length of the fibers is too long, extending about 2x the gap. If I choose a feather with a shorter fiber, it is also a shorter feather... Is there something I am missing? How exactly do you use these things for Wooly Buggers? Or maybe they're just for flymphs? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

RScott · 12-17-09, 09:56 AM

Fused

Have the same problem with some chartreuse and grizzly hackle, real long fibers and real short stems, but even with that, the boogers caught fish somehow. I bought a black and a brown "booger pack" at the Fish Hawk months back and they are absolutely perfect for boogers, I can usually get two boogers out of one hackle (sounds kind of disgusting) and there are nice spade hackles for tails.

Very large packages, probably will last me another year at least, wish they came in all colors...

RScott

S.Trutta · 12-17-09, 12:06 PM

The bugger packs are a good bet, but have you ever tried using schlappen feathers?? They are very long and have great webby hackle, and usually you get a wide range of sizes in any given batch. These arent great if your tying on the small side, but if you tying good sized buggers, or want to tie collars on larger streamers like circus peanuts, etc

Rich

SlowStreamer · 12-17-09, 12:48 PM

Never heard of schlappen feathers. Will have to keep my eyes open for them.

Buck Henry · 12-17-09, 01:01 PM

Anybody used / heard of a Whiting product called Chickabou? I saw some good looking buggers out west that were tied with Chickabou hackle and they looked awesome. So far, I have not found any shops locally that carry the stuff.

Gatorbyte · 12-17-09, 01:17 PM

Huh Huh. He said Schlappen.

terry creech · 12-17-09, 03:06 PM

Quote:

He said Schlappen.

Think its Yiddish. Some kind of mid-eastern chicken. Not to be confused with a Somali chicken, which is of course the world's fastest.

God I'm bored....

RScott · 12-17-09, 04:13 PM

Schlappen Hackle, Strung, dyed over white, 6"-7", 1/4 oz.
These are giant hackles that flow from the base of the saddle and along side of the tail of a rooster. They are opaque and webby. They are great for very large saltwater streamers and have found much favor with steelhead fly tiers. Schlappens from Scottish roosters were the original spey fly hackle. For this application strip one side of the feather and saturate the portion that you are going to use with saliva. The saliva will break the barbuals down slightly so that they won't marry together and will remain separated and provide lots of action when fishing.

http://www.flyfishusa.com/fly-tying/...hackle-sch.htm

fishinbub · 12-17-09, 04:39 PM

www.jsflyfishing.com

I believe they sell chikabou, and I know for a fact they sell schlappen.

fetherbender · 12-17-09, 05:20 PM

Yeah we use the schlappen alot down here for saltwater flies.

They are the main ingredient for a good seaducer.

12-17-09, 08:38 AM	#1
Fused Native Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Woodstock, GA Posts: 133	Hen Neck Hackles I'm trying out hen necks for tying wooly buggers. Supposedly, the fibers are more supple and give better movement in the water than dry fly hackles. My initial observation is that the overall feather length seems too short to wrap enough times and the length of the fibers is too long, extending about 2x the gap. If I choose a feather with a shorter fiber, it is also a shorter feather... Is there something I am missing? How exactly do you use these things for Wooly Buggers? Or maybe they're just for flymphs? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

12-17-09, 09:56 AM	#2
RScott Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Jonesboro, GA Posts: 2,788	Fused Have the same problem with some chartreuse and grizzly hackle, real long fibers and real short stems, but even with that, the boogers caught fish somehow. I bought a black and a brown "booger pack" at the Fish Hawk months back and they are absolutely perfect for boogers, I can usually get two boogers out of one hackle (sounds kind of disgusting) and there are nice spade hackles for tails. Very large packages, probably will last me another year at least, wish they came in all colors... RScott __________________ RScott NGTO Since 1998 and Competitive Angler (in my dreams) Listen up Buckwheat......Fishmonger 2011

12-17-09, 12:06 PM	#3
S.Trutta Native Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,889	The bugger packs are a good bet, but have you ever tried using schlappen feathers?? They are very long and have great webby hackle, and usually you get a wide range of sizes in any given batch. These arent great if your tying on the small side, but if you tying good sized buggers, or want to tie collars on larger streamers like circus peanuts, etc Rich __________________ "Fish hard or go home!!!"

12-17-09, 12:48 PM	#4
SlowStreamer Chief Information Officer, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Alpharetta, Ga Posts: 6,186	Never heard of schlappen feathers. Will have to keep my eyes open for them. __________________ Nothing is impossible the impossible just takes a little longer. So take your time and enjoy the experience.

12-17-09, 01:01 PM	#5
Buck Henry Former NGTO President Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kennesaw, GA Posts: 8,660	Anybody used / heard of a Whiting product called Chickabou? I saw some good looking buggers out west that were tied with Chickabou hackle and they looked awesome. So far, I have not found any shops locally that carry the stuff. __________________ Buck Henry Simple Goat Herder Former NGTO President Hall of Fame Member

12-17-09, 01:17 PM	#6
Gatorbyte President Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 7,547	Huh Huh. He said Schlappen. __________________ "Laughter is my drug of choice" - B. Nelson, HSD, AA, BS, MS, LPC, LMHC, NCC, FFF CCI, ACI, TAG, OPP, OCD, ADHD, ODD, PIB, MIB, PBR, PB & J " I didn't know you could spell a number. " - The Dutchman

12-17-09, 04:13 PM	#8
RScott Director, Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Jonesboro, GA Posts: 2,788	More bored than you Schlappen Hackle, Strung, dyed over white, 6"-7", 1/4 oz. These are giant hackles that flow from the base of the saddle and along side of the tail of a rooster. They are opaque and webby. They are great for very large saltwater streamers and have found much favor with steelhead fly tiers. Schlappens from Scottish roosters were the original spey fly hackle. For this application strip one side of the feather and saturate the portion that you are going to use with saliva. The saliva will break the barbuals down slightly so that they won't marry together and will remain separated and provide lots of action when fishing. http://www.flyfishusa.com/fly-tying/...hackle-sch.htm __________________ RScott NGTO Since 1998 and Competitive Angler (in my dreams) Listen up Buckwheat......Fishmonger 2011

12-17-09, 04:39 PM	#9
fishinbub Hall of Fame Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Demorest, Ga Posts: 4,366	www.jsflyfishing.com I believe they sell chikabou, and I know for a fact they sell schlappen. __________________ Every time you fish a dry fly on a plastic rod, Bubba keeps a limit of brookies.

12-17-09, 05:20 PM	#10
fetherbender Native Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: St Augustine FL Posts: 229	Yeah we use the schlappen alot down here for saltwater flies. They are the main ingredient for a good seaducer.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode