February Red Soft Hackle

I had to do a little research for the February Red knowing there are a few different versions of this soft hackle pattern (like so many other patterns). Some are tied on short shank hooks, others to 2XL hooks.  Partridge and grouse are common hackles yet others are tied with a thorax and even a few variations tied with fur spun on red silk. There are also a few different techniques of tying, too.   The closest I came to finding the exact pattern recipe compared to what we tie today came from The Soft-Hackled Fly and Tiny Soft Hackles (Nemes 1975).  The body consisted of  mahogany silk and brown partridge hackle.

For the beginning tier, one of the main reasons for this blog, let's go the simple route.   Please note that tradition(al) (soft hackle) calls for silk as tying thread however, I have been using Veevus thread for much of my tying these days.  It is strong, tough and gives a close facsimile of silk for the body.  

We can look at different tying techniques and materials for traditional soft hackles down the road.  In the interim, let's get you started...

Materials

Hook:  Daiichi 1530 or 1560, sizes 12-16

Thread:  Pearsall's Gossamer silk (red) or Veevus 8/0 (red)

Hackle:  Partridege, brown

Step 1:

Pinch barb with hook vise and secure.  Form a body with thread or silk by starting just behind the eye and advancing thread/silk to a position between the hook point and barb then returning to the area pictured.

Step 2:

Prepare a partridge by stripping all the fluff from the bottom of the feather.  Tie is feather by the tip or forward part of the feather.  Fibers should be, at a minimum, as long as hook bend.  Fold tip back over thread and make one or two tight securing wraps and cut away tip. This will lock the feather in place.

Step 3:

Lift stem straight up and draw fibers rearward.  Make one wrap (or two if a thicker hackle is desired) and secure.  Finish with a 3 or 4 turn whip finish.  Apply a coat or two of head cement.  If you are utilizing silk do not apply head cement.

I've opened the hackle to show the body.

Again, this instruction is not traditional.  I will cover it at a later time.

Enjoy!