Learn the simple chemical process using bleach and baking soda to make Heron looking spey hackles from common goose shoulder feathers. This process works great on schlappen feathers too, and you get a long thin spey!
Opened a whole new world of classic speys to me as I had a bunch of goose shoulder and no spey hackle. Ready to tie some classics now. Thanks for the education.
Thanks for watching. If the hackle is older and has dried out and tends to crack when wrapping, just soak them in a cup of warm water while tying and finger squeegee each of them them before using.
I have never had any luck splitting them. If the stems are thick, you can soak them in warm water while tying, wring them out by sliding them between your fingers. and wrap them damp. That will prevent breakage as you tie.
Chris any ideas what to do with excess wing feathers like secondaries? I am aware of winging, quill bodies, horns, nymph backs, etc. I tie mostly wet flies and jigs mostly for warm water panfish. Have lots of secondaries from bird skins, duck and pheasant wings, etc. You have a vast background and thought you might have some ideas. Now in my 70s, been tying since I was 11, looking for how to put some of my aging inventory into good use.
Other than matched wing salmon type flies, the primary and secondary wing feathers are of little use. There are "Hackleless" wet flies as well but they are nasty to tie.
