Genetic hackles

Every time I order a new cape or saddle I'm amazed how the hackle quality is ever improving. I recently ordered two rooster capes. A Pro grade Grizzly Variant from the Hebert Miner line and barred Ginger from the Whiting line. Both capes are from Whiting Farms. Without doubt the best hackles come from Whiting Farms*.

I still remember buying cheap indian capes in the 1980's as I couldn't believe the price one had to pay for a high quality Metz cape. Of course tying dry flies with those cheap indian hackles was nothing short of frustration. The sweet spot (if ever) on a hackle was barely an inch. The barb density was of course laughable! One of my friends showed me a Metz cape (I think it was a grade #2) and I understood that tying nice dry flies without a quality cape was impossible. Back then Metz (bought by Umpqua) was the best thing since sliced bread. I don't think I heard about the amazing quality of Hoffman hackles until the early 1990's.

It wasn't until my first visit to the US to fish in 1992 that I saw this legendary Hoffman saddle for the first time. This was amazing! A saddle hackle was at least 8 to 10 inches long and the sweet spot was almost as long as the whole hackle! The barb density was really out of this world: one could easily tie several dry flies from one hackle. It's hard to stay calm when one encounters so many different colors and types of Hoffman capes and saddles in a fly shop.

The Hebert hackle is said to have excellent coloration in natural colors brown, ginger and cream. Especially exceptional are the natural Duns, far better than the ones Hoffman had (now Whiting Farms). Here is an excellent article on the history of hackles and their originators. Very interesting!

I'll be tying some Catskill dry flies soon. I'm thinking about getting a bunch of classic Catskill dry flies framed. Maybe for myself or to give away to someone dear. Anyway, I need to gather the finest materials I need to end up with the best dry flies I can possibly tie. Keep posted!

Here is an excellent article about selecting the right hackle when tying dry flies (thank you Global Flyfisher).

Update June 2022:

* Obviously this is not the whole truth. Yes, Whiting has upped certain qualities of hackle to insane levels. Things like high barb count, length of the sweet spot and crazy small hackle sizes.

But some essential characteristics of good hackle are lost along the way. Gone are the feathers around the 'sweet spot area' of capes with good amount of sizes 12' and 10's (and even 8's), the structure of the barbules are often disappointing (soft and curved) and even greasy feathers with barbules matting!