Everything you need to know about hackle - in depth explanation of whiting feathers, saddle & capes

A guide to whiting fly tying hackles, rooster, hen, cape and saddle
See all the capes and saddles here: nordicanglers....

[@jamesjames4652]

Love this guy.... His enthusiasm is infectious...

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you so much :)

[@montanarailroads7367]

Three general cape variations: dyed, ginger, and a badger saddle? Lol! Dude, you have so much to learn.

[@NordicAnglers]

Really? How so?

[@montanarailroads7367]

@@NordicAnglers If you think the three general cape variations are dyed, ginger, and a badger saddle, then I can't help you. First, a badger saddle is not a cape variation at all. It's not even a cape. Second, what about grizzly, dun, cree, white, furnace, and natural brown and black? How do they fall under dyed, ginger, or badger?

[@thomasharriso5570]

Wow you have just explained everything clearly. Well done. I need to watch your video a few more times to take it all in!!! Brilliant

[@NordicAnglers]

Thanks man! Great you like the video :)

[@harleysmith3895]

Thank you for this video! Very informative

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@mikehulsey4813]

Great video and well explained!

[@NordicAnglers]

Glad you liked it!

[@jaredwilliams8969]

Thank you! Your passion for this sport is obvious, and you explained the hackle very well. I'm fairly new to fly tying, and I greatly appreciate you sharing your knowledge!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@puckwrx1]

Wanted to add a recent THANK YOU! Awesome video!

[@montanaflycasting6559]

Extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@andysfishingandflytyingcha2310]

Great video man. You have stripped away the mystery!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you :)

[@willow6217]

Brilliant!! Great info for a newbie fly fisherman thank you

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@KKIcons]

I managed to hatch one Whiting True Blue rooster, and now I understand why I have to catch and cuddle each day 😂. It takes a few years to grow out his feathers though.

[@dillongrillo296]

In depth and informative. Thanks!

[@NordicAnglers]

You're welcome :)

[@simonghantous8034]

Thank you bid for this video. I had a lot of questions about feathers. U mead it very easy to understand. Keep up the good work. Love ur channel. Love from canada 🇨🇦

[@DebbieElmerStudios]

This was really well done, and thoroughly enjoyed your enthusiasm and expertise!!

[@genesloan3175]

You are clearly the encyclopedia of feathers! Info I could only hope to be able to remember a small part you gave on this video. Subscribed and liked!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you, and now you know where to get the info if you forget :)

[@kentw.897]

Thankyou for sharing this video with us. I loved watching it, there's a lot of information that will be useful to me when shopping for feathers. Take Care, & Aloha!🌴🐓🎣🐟🦃

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you :)

[@michaelortiz8214]

This is a great video for this new fly tier, thank you!

[@richardgill9484]

Thank you so much for doing this, it's been a massive help👍🏻🍻

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@botondsolymossy8922]

Great video, thank you!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@TGging]

Very comprehensive explanation. Best I’ve seen so far. Will definitely subscribe to you channel. Look forward to the next presentation. Thanks

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you for the kind words

[@gianlucaperrone593]

Wow?!!? You have so many rods back there! If you’d ever want to get rid of some send them my way!

[@NordicAnglers]

Well they are the rods in my flyfishing shop :)

[@daledurham7353]

Excellent presentation! I have always wondered what feather is best for different flies. You explained it very well! Thank you!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you :)

[@learuiz1283]

Ha sido una gran explicación y una gran ayuda para los principiantes como yo. Muchas gracias!!

[@NordicAnglers]

I dont know what you are saying besides "Muchas gracias!!" hope it was helpfull

[@iamkarlmeyer]

I needed this. Thank you!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you :)

[@matthewcapra9761]

Thanks helping allot I’m just getting into fly tying thanks so much

[@clarkstevens8372]

You did a Excellent job in this video!! I teach fly tying classes in Southern California and I will recommend this video to our members! I have taught children through adult learners and I have subscribed to this site. Your presentation was both, educational and enthusiastic! Looking forward to viewing additional videos from your site! Clark S.

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you so much and thank you for sharing

[@michaelrollo6518]

thank you for the information

[@RaptorzFishing]

well explained!! thanks buddy

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you :)

[@bigboy3332]

Thank you so much! Downloaded this one lol

[@NordicAnglers]

Happy to hear it was usefull

[@reddsflies]

great video!

[@ericmountford9929]

Great video. Thanks for the info.

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@Tammyandherepack]

Thank you! Nice explanation

[@NordicAnglers]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnconnolly3635]

Great job

[@DoctorRobert2009]

Great help!!!

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you :)

[@fikreefauzi8604]

very informative, consider yourself a 'feather pro'..

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Excellent demonstration. What really bugs me with hackles supplies is that either I have to buy a compete saddle or cape that is expensive and which has a majority of feathers I will never use. or else I have to get small packets. or cards with jut 20 or so (mostly genetic I want for small dry flies-12 to 18). I wish the manufacturers would sell packs off say 50-100 feathers of the appropriate useable size. Similarly for wet hackle feathers. Anyway, thanks for your informative clips. :-)

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@chestercrabtree686]

TERRYBIGGENDEN: Whiting makes 100 packs that are gold quality and sized. Check their website whitingfarms.com/packs-other-products/

[@mystylangston4803]

I have a question for you. I little back story I Am building a small flock for eggs and meat but also wanted to harvest the feathers for this reason less waste. So my question is what would be a good starter pack/verity pack you would like to see? i have Silkies, Bahamas, Easter Eggers, speckled Sussex and Road Island reds with plans to add ameraucana and marans but not sure which one of them as there are many diffrent ones. I know my quality will not be anything like the whiting but having starter pack of less expensive or small sized variety to start with and use to supplement a fly tie starter or small time hobbiest is my target consumer, so I would value your input and suggestions.

[@banned5045]

Good video as always

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@garylawlor2288]

Brilliant video. Loads of great information and tips. What would be your favourite for flat wing flies?

[@JohnCunninghamTeam]

If tying an ant sizes 14-18 what feather would you recommend for matching wings? What grade and type should I buy for that?

[@andreasherbeck9230]

Very good job👍🏻 Greetings from Heidelberg, Germany

[@NordicAnglers]

thank you :)

[@RollinRollinReelin]

Hi. My name is John. I'm just starting with fly tying. Right now what I want to do is tye some feathers onto the trailing hooks on larger salt water lures. I purchased a bag of feathers from Hobby Lobby in various sizes and colors. What I want to ask you is where do I start? I have some tools coming from Amazon too. Thanks for your time!

[@NordicAnglers]

You should start here; kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6ivf4WJlLaSfqs :) It's a video series we've made, about beginners flytying

[@mariusolsen2921]

Hi, very informative video, but I still have some questions: For fronthackle I’m looking at Hen, preferably capes, I’m now struggling with finding big enough and small enough feathers, i have mostly FF saddles and FF softhackle patch/saddle. Will the American Hen Cape give me the biggest variations in sizes, or can the 4B/Feathermaster be just as variated? I don’t tie for sales, mostly personal use so I dont need 1000 feathers of one size in one colour, but I need several necks in different colours with «all» sizes. And the same question on rooster for bodyhackles, now I have only one FF Signature Rooster Cape, and the feathers has pretty large/ too large fibers, what product will be best suited for long stems and short fibers for bodyhackle, is it the American Rooster Cape? And are there difference between in the feather besides color between laced vs grizzly or plain? And for last, what product is the best suited for «only» big/long fronthacklefibers, the stem doesn’t have to be that long, would that be 4B?

[@NordicAnglers]

Hackle sizes varies alot from breed to breed of chickens/hens. Also the feathers lenght is affected by species. For big size variation in soft/hen hackles, i would always go with a 4B. There are less feathers cut of in the trimming process, hence a bigger range of sizes. For rooster, i would go with the american hackles, from whiting - as you mentioned. If you want consistant feather lenghts, for body hackles, you can always go with a flatwing/dryfly cape. Laced, grizzly, plain is all the same feathers. It's just individual bird variations that play a role here. The feathers are more or less identical in structure, i would say. It's all breader genetics! For really consistant big hen feathers, i would go with something like slappen feathers or maybe a Ewing rooster saddle. hope it helps :) /Stefan

[@davidkerr2285]

I would love to get a 4b Feathermaster cape at 24 minutes but have search all internet and can't find one. Could you tell me where or of yous have them ? Thanks David Snr

[@NordicAnglers]

Right here; nordicanglers.com/en/fly-tying/capes-and-saddles/hone-saddles/whiting.html

[@mmmgdl]

How do you dye the feathers, capes or any of those?

[@NordicAnglers]

Well i dont Whiting do that for me. I am sorry i have no clue as to how you dye materials

[@dathanoutdoors6922]

what is the best used to make the articulated feather game changer?

[@NordicAnglers]

Hen saddles i would say, or schalappen, they make the most dense hackels

[@martingustavssonviskastran9584]

kanonbra... tack...

[@NordicAnglers]

Thank you

[@thestalicho]

Silky feathers are not waterproof, i used to keep them as pets.

[@NordicAnglers]

Hello there :) I don't believe i said they where waterproof :)

[@patrickmcphee770]

killed it, subbing is the least i can do!