Plumage
Bird feathers were probably the first fly-tying material. Their use goes back thousands of years, and they are still important today. The feathers come from wild birds and domestic varieties. Complete feathers and parts of feathers are used in our patterns. When selecting feathers, look for feathers that are in good condition and that are not frayed.
Turkey. Both wild and domestic turkey feathers are used for fly tying. The feathers of most interest to tiers are the wing quills, flats (body feathers) and tails. The secondary wing quills are the traditional material for Muddlers, hoppers, and some caddis wings. The primary wing feathers are used for biots. [See the section on quills and biots for more information on turkey biots. THE EDITORS.]
Shown above are (left to right) a natural wild turkey quill, inked domestic turkey quill, peacock wing feather, wild turkey tail, and (bottom) a turkey flat feather. Turkey flats are often used as a wing material on thorax-style dry flies, turkey tail is a common ingredient for wings on downwing patterns like grasshoppers and caddis. Turkey quills are sometimes called for as part of married wings in Atlantic salmon patterns.
Since good wild turkey quills are not in great supply, some good substitutes have been found. White quills dyed and marked with inked patterns are the most common, and after they are tied onto the fly are hard to tell from the real thing. The quills are also dyed in a full range of colors.
Peacock wings are wonderful natural substitute, and for smaller flies, the turkey-like feathers at the base of a ringneck pheasant tail are superb. Turkey tails, also known as cinnamon turkey, are mostly used on nymph wing cases, but they can be wrapped as a body. They are also used in classic salmon fly wings.
Turkey flats are very popular on match-the-hatch mayfly imitations. They are tied in like a hackle-tip wing and usually used on thorax or parachute patterns. They come in white and dyed colors.
Pheasant. If you were limited to one bird for tying, a ringneck pheasant would be a good choice. The tails are used for bodies and legs. The legs are knotted to form a joint and then tied in. This is easier to do with forceps or Rainy's Hopper leg tool. Rainy Riding, Spirit River, and World Specialties sell pre-tied pheasant hopper legs. The body feathers can used as wings, crab and crawfish claws, or large soft hackles. The "Church Pane" feathers can be cemented and cut to make imitation jungle cock.
Wing feathers, although not commonly used, will work as quill wings or wingcases. The rump feathers are used on crabs and for spey hackles. The filoplumes--which are the fuzzy marabou-like underfeathers--are used to make nymphs and leeches that come alive in the water. Pheasant skins can be purchased in dyed colors.
Golden pheasant is used extensively for trout and salmon flies. The crest and tippets are used for toppings, tails and wings. The tails are used in classic salmon fly wings. Silver pheasant body feathers are used for cheeks on traditional streamers such as the Gray Ghost.
Amherst pheasant tippets are used on the wings of salmon flies or as a tail. Both the silver and Amherst feathers can be dyed easily. Tragopans have beautiful rust brown plumage mixed with light dun in the feathers. The back feathers have grey and black eyes on them. They are used on some classic salmon flies.
Hungarian Partridge. This is the most widely used soft hackle. The neck and body feathers on this bird run a little smaller than other upland birds. Most of the plumage is a speckled black and white, but there are some nice brown mottled feathers too. When buying partridge skins, size the feathers like hackle. It is hard to find partridge below #14.
I use a little different method tying soft hackles. It will allow you to use any size feather on small flies. Pull the fibers off of the stem, keep tips even and tie them in just behind the eye of the hook. The tips should extend the length of the desired hackle past the eye. Go back, tie the body of the fly and then stroke back the partridge and tie it down. This will form the soft hackle. Use your thumbnail to manipulate the fibers where you want them before finishing the head on the fly. This technique can be used with about any species of bird's body feathers. Partridge is also used a parachute, spinner and caddis wings.
Guinea. Guinea has black feathers with white spots on them. I use them for soft hackles. Blue-dyed guinea is the standard substitute for the European bluejay that was used on classic salmon flies. It is a common throat or hackle on steelhead flies.
Duck and Goose. The use of waterfowl feathers for flies goes back many years. The quills or secondary feathers are used on traditional quill wing wets and dries. Duck body feathers such as mallard, teal, and wood duck are used for wings on drys, nymphs, and streamers. Barred wood duck is very popular on streamers and classic salmon flies. Goose quills with their firmer texture are easier to use than duck. When tying in any quill, pinch the wing segments firmly between the thumb and fore finger of your left hand (right hand tiers). Pinch them very firmly and then with your tying thread, make your first few wraps loosely and pull it tight very quick. If you do it slow, it won't work. Don't let go of the quills until they are tied securely in place.
Shown above (top to bottom and left to right) are dyed orange goose biots on the stem; goose shoulder; goose quill; duck quill; and teal, wood duck, and mallard-dyed wood duck flank feathers. These feather fibers can be used for everything from wings on No Hackle dry flies (duck quill), to body material for nymphs (biots), to tails on emerger patterns (duck flank feathers).
CDC. Cul de Canard (CDC) is a relatively recent addition to the North American tying market, but has been used for decades in Europe. CDC comes from the area around waterfowl's preening gland. In its natural untreated form it floats well. It also has a marabou-like action. Its natural structure traps air bubbles. It works nicely for tying small Compara-duns because it builds up less bulk than deer hair. It is also for as shucks, hackles, spinner wings, and bodies on drys and emergers.
Besides the standard CDC feather, the bulkier Oiler puffs are sold. I prefer them for use as wings, since one feather is enough to make a full wing. On standard CDC, it may take two or three feathers. In dyed forms or after use it needs to be treated with powdered floatant.
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