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<whiting hen capes>

Whiting Soft Hackle with Chickabou

Soft hackle has seen a huge resurgence in popularity. When I go to shows, it is no longer uncomon to sell more soft hakle than dry fly.

The soft webby quality of hen feathers quickly absorbs water, keeping your fly below the surface.

This line of hen is smaller and has long slender feathers in the neck. If you're looking for a larger, wider feather, check out the hens from my saltwater line.

Tips for Tying with Matuka and Chickabou Feathers

Matuka Feathers

This tying style originated in New Zealand. The flies were known as "mutuku flies", named after the feathers from the Matuku Bittern which were originally used along with Kiwi feathers. Today both these birds are endangered and no longer available.

Somehow, over time, the name changed to "matuka". The best feathers for tying this style of fly are found on the breast of dry fly roosters. The feathers are long and wide with a round tip. The web is dense and extends to the edge of each feather.

Chickabou

The best way to describe these feathers is that they are mini marabou. They come from the same place on a chicken that marabou is found on a turkey. The fibers are soft and fluffy like marabou, however, the feather stem is a bit longer and stiffer.

The variety of colors and patterns is useful for everything from coldwater to saltwater patterns. Dyed grizzly colors make nice buggers, natural colors can be used as a sub to match a natural feather such as a bittern, and the speckled pattern on the laced birds has an especially buggy look.

 


 

whiting hen hackleWhiting Farms Soft Hackle with Chickabou

These hen capes are from the Whiting and Hebert line. The nice thing about these hen capes is that even the small feathers are long, making tying small sizes a breeze.

***To see other Whiting Soft Hackle products, please visit these pages; Whiting Hen Capes and Whiting Hen Saddles.

 

    Grizzly - Natural and dyed colors  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability. Please call for colors not listed.

Natural and Dyed Grizzly

grizzly ashy dark bleached dun heron black
brown olive brnt org dk brown dk olive gold oliv claret

Hot Colors

red yellow orange chart yel char kingfisher silver doc
magenta purple pink lav highlander peacock color

 

 

Whiting Soft Hackle with Chickabou / $20

To order, select a color;



 

 

 

    Dyed over White  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability. Please call for colors not listed.

 

Natural and Dyed

black white med dun nat blk heron claret peacock
olive brown tan burnt org lt brown lt olive shrimp

Hot Colors

red yellow orange gr chart yel chart highlander maganta
purple hot pink lavander kingfisher silver doc color color

 

 

Whiting Soft Hackle with Chickabou / $20

To order, select a color;

 



 

 

 

    Dyed over Laced  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability. Please call for colors not listed.

Natural and Dyed

white olive shrimp claret lt olive burnt org highlander

Hot Colors

red yellow orange chartruese silver doctor hot pink purple

 

Laced Soft Hackle with Chicabou / $20

To order, select a color;



 

 

 

    Naturals  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability. Please call for colors not listed.

Naturals

wild type light tan dark grey black lt grey

 

 

Whiting Soft Hackle with Chickabou / $20

To order, select a color;

 



 

 

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Coq de Leon Soft Hackle with Chickabou

The mixture of browns and tans give your fly a natural buggy look.

 

***To compare with other Coq de Leon Hen products, please visit; Whiting Hen Capes and Whiting Hen Saddles. To see the full line, please visit; Coq de Leon.

 

    Coq de Leon  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability.

Hen

brown speckled silver speckled dark rubio straw claret white
brown olive golden brown golden olive brown olive burnt orange copper
red yellow orange chartruse blue pink purple

Rooster

***SORRY, ALL COLORS OUT OF STOCK

R #1 R #2 R #3 R #4 R #5 R #6 R #7

 

Coq de Leon Soft Hackle with Chicabou / $25

To order, select a color;



 

 

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dry fly hackle Soft Hackle with Chickabou

Nothing beats these feathers for tying small woolly bugger patterns. The matuka feathers on the top of these pelts have the same delicate mottling found on the saddles.

 

***To compare with other Brahma Hen products, please visit; Whiting Hen Capes and Whiting Hen Saddles. To see the full line, please visit; Whiting Brahma Hen.

 

    Whiting Brahma Hen  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability. Please call for colors not listed.

Natural and Dyed

natural brown olive golden brown golden olive dark olive copper
march brown pale yellow burnt orange tan golden straw dyed dun black

 

***SORRY, ALL COLORS OUT OF STOCK

Brahma Soft Hackle with Chickabou / $23

To order, select a color;



 

 

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dry fly hackleWhiting Spey Soft Hackle with Chickabou

More like marabou on a stem, the feathers on these pelts are perfect for saltwater patterns.

 

***To compare with other Whiting Spey Hen products, please visit; Whiting Hen Capes and Whiting Hen Saddles. To see the full line, please visit; Whiting Spey Hackle.

 

    Whiting Spey  
<dry fly saddles>  

Check the drop-down menu for availability. Please call for colors not listed.

Natural and Dyed

olive brown salmon shrimp heron black claret
red yellow orange chartruese kingfisher hot pink purple

 

Spey Soft Hackle with Chickabou / $22

To order, select a color;



 

 

 

 

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Mayfly Winger feathers 4 for $15.00  

Mayfly Winger Feathers

Many people ask "what is the best feather to use for tying wings on my dry flies?"

Years ago, tyers were able to use hen necks. However, with hackle growers breeding for smaller and smaller hackle sizes, today these feathers are too narrow and "dry-fly" like.

Well, here is a feather that works well; nice barring, web right up to the edge, and nice round tips - all making for the perfect siloette on the water.

Looking for more colors? Check out my page on Winger Feathers

 

 

 

 

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"No Questions Asked" Return Policy

If you order feathers from me and are not happy for whatever reason, please contact me right away and I will resolve the problem. I don't want you to be unhappy with anything you purchase.

Thanks, David 608-332-4220

 

       
   



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whiting Soft Hackle Feather Lines

 

whiting hen hackle

 

coq de leon

 

whiting american hackle

 

whiting american hackle

 

whiting american hackle

 

 


 

Matuka Patterns





 

 

Comparing Neck, Saddle, and Matuka

3 distinct feather types

 

 

 



 

 

Whiting Soft Hackle

Other Soft Hackle offered by Whiting Farms

- Links -

 

 

Hen Capes

4 distinct feather lines

 

Whiting

 

Coq de Leon

 

Brahma


American

 

Hen Saddles

Grizzly

 

Brown

 

Dun

 

 


Soft Hackle Rooster Saddles


Olive

 

 

 

Mayfly Winger Feathers

 

Winger Patches

Webby feathers with nice round tips

 

 

 

 

 

Classic Soft Hackle Feathers

These are some of the finest feathers for classic soft hackle patterns

- Links -

 

 

Snipe

 


Marabou Packs

 

 

Starling

 

 

Partridge

 

 

Woodcock

 

 


Lemon Wood Duck

 

 

 

Cul de Canard

 

 

Coq de Leon - great for legs

 

 


Golden Pheasant Tippets

 

 

Whiting Hackle Gauge

 

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