Hackle Gauge

I was looking in the Jann's Netcraft Catalog an ran across a listing for a Hackle Gauge. It says: This convenient gauge slides onto most vise stems, Bend hackle around pin and read hook size off scale.----My question is do any of you use this or is this something just used by small fly tiers.:dono

I use it a lot for tying flies. Very handy to be able to find the right size hackle when adding a hackled body or collar on a fly like the Catskills and is also helpful for picking hackle for small jigs like the 1/100 & 1/80. A nice saddle or cape has a ton of different size hackles and are graded for fly sizes the saddle or cape can be used for. When paying big money for Whiting hackle and capes you can get the best available in 3 grades and even their bottom grades are very nice to work with.

X2 with Stump - I have one that goes on the vise stem but when I tie Catskills I use an old Dette hackle guage you just bend the hackle put it on the edge of the card and it tells you if it's the right size. The right size on a fly is an absolute must but on a jig a size or two won't hurt it and sometimes helps give it a slower sink rate on the smaller jigs.

Agree, mostly for flies. Never need it for jigs as the rules go out when you camp in a jig head.

Thanks. When I saw it I wondered if it was really used or just something to sell to newbies.