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.

Lines - Whiting - Hebert - Coq de Leon - Brahma - American - Laced - Spey.

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 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

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

Dyed over White

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

Dyed over Laced

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

Naturals

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

top

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

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

top

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

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

top

Whiting 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

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

top

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

top

"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