Feathers for tying Spey & Dee Flies

Blue Eared Pheasant

The feathers on these bird most closely resemble the long fibered heron feathers traditionally used to hackle spey patterns. The feathers on the rump have the longest and strongest fibers.

Rhea

The pulsating movement that these feathers create in the water have made them a popular as a sub. The fibers are long and strong, dye well, and can be found in many contemperary patterns.

Marabou Plumes

Chosen to imitat the soft black shoulder feathers of a heron, the ideal plume has fine stems and fibers with little to no fuzz near the tipps. These blood quills are also ideal for imitating the leg feathers of a Golden Eagle that were used for tying "Eagle flies".

Schlappen

The ideal Spey Cock feather is long, thin stemed, and has varing degrees of brownrunning in the feather. Half bronze schlappen is as close as we can come today to immitating the qualities of the rooster bred along the River Spey.

Pheasant Rump

The feathers found on the lower rump of a Ring necked pheasant are heron like in a mannor of speaking, the fibers are long and free of webb. They dye nicely and are a perfect sub for tying mid sized patterns

Burnt Goose Shoulder

These feathers are used to hackle heron style flies. They have been put through a slight bleech bath to burn off the barbuals or web that hold the feather together. The feathers vary a bit and the ones with the heavier stems can be split so as to tie in more easily.

Duck Flank

Classic literature refers to wigeon, teal and pintail. However, the flank feathers from any one of the ducks I've listed work well and add their own distinct qualities. To further expand possilbities, check out the dyed colors, and don't be afraid to ask if you don't see one you're looking for.

Keyna Crested Guinea

Often used as a natural substitute for Eropean Jay, these cobalt blue feathers are spoted with robin blue dotts. The fibers are soft and the stem on even the longer feathers is thin and flexable.

Vulurine Guinea

There are quite a few different feahers on this bird that are irreplacable in tying spey and dee patterns. The darker feather make the white spots come alive and are great for throats and collars. The electric-blue hackles make nice collars as well, and the long narrow neck hackles are used in tying Elver patterns.

Guinea

The vibrant spoted pattern on these feathers make a striking collar. Generally, the larger body feathers have dots that are more distinct and when wraped, create a barred pattern. The dots on the smaller feathers are more blurred. Each lends to its own effect.

Egyptian Goose

The flank feathers on these birds closely resemble lemon flank on a Wood Duck. However, the fibers are much longer and for that reason are especially useful in tying collars on large Dee patterns such as the Glentana. The pattern on the shoulders is nice too!

Duck Flank

The largest feathers on the flank of a duck are often used as winging material. These include, Hooded Merganser, Pintail, and Green Winged teal, dyed and natural, to name just a few. Flank from exotic waterfowl also sources of interesting possibilities.

Goose Shoulder

Due to it's availability and ease in dying, many tyers use these feathers rather than swan shoulder for tying in Dee-style and Spey-style wings. Goose shoulder is on the soft side and is usually seen tied in "tent-style".

Argus

Argus offer three possibilities for winging materials for Dee patterns. Wing feathers, center tail feathers, and side tails. Each have beautiful color patterns and long fibers perfect for tying in V shaped Dee wing styles. The most commonly seen are the snowflake side tails.

Saltwater Rooster

The wide, webby, sturdy feathers on a saltwater rooster cape are perfect for hackle tip wings on spey flies. The tips are rounded and the stem is strong so the fly hold its shape in water. These capes are dyed just about any color you could ever want!

Bronze Mallard

Historically the feather of choice, these feathers used in matched pairs and tied in a roof style. They are the outer shoulder or scapular feathers on a Mallard drake, each having only 3 pair of usable size. Be sure and check out scapular feathers from American Wigeon and Gadwall, the color patterns are interesting.

Turkey Tail Quills

Historical Dee patterns call for feather strips cut from turkey tails tyed in so when viewed from above, they formed a V shape. Today with all the color mutations of Turkeys being bred there are lots of possibilities. Be sure and check out the dyed color sets.

Capercaillie

Not called for that often, these tail quills from the world's largest grouse have a unique mix of irredescent black and white The fibers are long and stiff, perfect for winging materials in Dee patterns. They are used similarily to Turkey tails