Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Fly Tying Materials - Reasonably Priced

I’d have to chime in and say there are quality deals to be found for premium product.  Whiting's has their best hackle graded, and is the genetic dry fly hackle.  The Hebert/Miner is a classic Catskill-style hackle that isn’t dyed, and is also affordable.  Their High & Dry product is very good and a lot less expensive than their other 2, and although we recommend it for folks looking for affordable alternatives, we’ll be stocking the previously mentioned lines, as well as other materials from companies that send us great stuff.

There’s a reason you hand pick your own materials in stores, and most reputable shops will make sure to stock quality products.  We do the same and hand-pick materials for orders.  We send back sub-par items to the manufacturers.  A previous employee was once caught on the phone barking at a vendor for sending him a half dozen Bambi bucktails once.  I won’t say who it was, but his name rhymes with Schmizzly.

There are some mentioned companies, like Collins that make a good product.  Charlie Collins is upstate NY and I’ve bought his hackle before, but there’s no comparison to what Charlie sells you for $45 (grade 2 or 3 neck and saddle) versus a bronze Whiting half saddle for $50.  You’ll get long, more usable feathers that are consistent in color.  That means more flies tied per feather, and the right color and size.

Regards,

R

PS – Yes Lane.  Sometime next week we’ll make an announcement.

From: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com>
Reply-To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com>
Date: Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 1:39 PM
To: Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com>
Subject: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Fly Tying Materials - Reasonably Priced

I recognize this is only somewhat responsive, but I'll give you my take on what I had to learn the hard way.  Basically, your question sets up something that's impossible to answer, in my view.

I do not believe there are "discount ... quality necks and saddles" for dry flies.  I would (and do now) pay extra for high quality dry fly hackle.  I no longer order dry fly hackle from online sources due to a couple of hard lessons and wasted cash.  I want to see the dry fly hackle, so I am always on the lookout at local fly shops (even those I'm patiently waiting for).  In the past, when I didn't have local shops, I did try online and ended up with a couple of bad stories.  Necks and saddles that were bug-infested in a couple of instances and in another couple of instances the quills were so brittle from either a drying or dying process, I presume, that I couldn't use them, they broke.  And there was the black neck that was a dark purple.

BUT (this is more responsive to your question), I think you can go discount for wet-fly and bugger hackles.  (I ended up using the dark purple neck on my buggers.)  Again, I am always on the lookout at the local shops because I want to see what I'm getting.

On Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 10:25:05 AM UTC-5, Flyrodva wrote:

Anyone have suggestions on where to buy reasonably-priced fly tying materials?  Especially online sources.  But, area sources or stores also helpful.  Looking for discount materials.  Especially interested in reasonably-priced decent quality necks and saddles for tying trout flies sizes #14 - #22.  Thank you.

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