Looking at J Stockard catalog

So, in my looking through the catalog, a couple of things are stumping me. Looking in the catalog, I was looking at feathers, again. But I was wondering if hackle feathers offer a good tail using the tip and "V" type tail? And if so, which feather is slender enuf and offers the hackle look at the head? I'm kinda wanting not to have a bushy look to my tails.
When I first started, I was off the chart and bad. I was focusing on Marabou and using one color of thread.....well, you get the picture.

Now, this past year I've focused on using bucktail, and using flashabou and a hard bodied look of the collar, almost never tying Chenille. And I am only tying Crappie or Panfish jigs, with an occasional Clouser fly.

So, I'm comfortable with tying, in general. My obsession with tying jigs with 3d eyes is still strong. But I'm still a limited experienced tyer....
And I also want to explore different shorter body hair that would work better with 1/32, up to 1/4.
I don't know whether staying with bucktail where I waste half of the hair shaft is best.
Any pointers would be appreciated.....



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1st pick is saddle hackle and is good for the tips. 2nd pic is neck hackle and good for v’s. I tend to use saddle hackle tips more for my jigs. I use 3 or so for the tail. I also use a saddle hackle tip and then some v’s from a neck hackle. I hardly just use v’s but a lot of folks do. Good to have both.

Here’s a good video from Patrick.

https://youtu.be/t1nPuPH4Lx8

I've had the best luck with saltwater neck hackle. You can usually get several tails from one feather.

If there is a fly shop nearby I'd recommend going there rather than ordering online. With synthetics one package of a product is as good as another and they're all the same but with natural materials like feathers and hair there can be a huge difference in length and quality from one bag to the next.

Fly shops are hard to come by but that’s good advice if you can.

Fly shops are hard to come by but that’s good advice if you can.

Thanks guys....video was very helpful

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Originally Posted by BobC

Fly shops are hard to come by but that’s good advice if you can.

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Depends on where you are I guess. Here in trout country you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one.

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Originally Posted by Shoemoo

Depends on where you are I guess. Here in trout country you can't swing a dead cat without hitting one.

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That’s a real nice luxury. We have a bait shop with a limited inventory about 15 miles away, but that’s it. Cabelas in Hamburg, PA use to have a terrific fly shop in the store that would rival anything else, but I haven’t been out there in years.
Bob

And that is one of my problems....not within 100 miles of a store that carries fly fishing materials. If I buy something from a photo in a catalog, such as the one mentioned in my title, I really don't know what I'm getting. I have to just shoot craps and hope for the best. Plus, shipping is outrageous, and the stores charge so much for shipping. I just usually pull back, and start looking at other sources.


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