For The Fly-Tyer

By Shane Stalcup

CUL DE CHICKEN

  For numerous years we have been trying to unravel the secrets of the now famous feather we call C.D.C. For years we have bought small packages with roughly 50-100 feathers in these packages only to find that we end up throwing most of it away. Why? Poor quality and the costly labor to sort out the bad stuff.

  Our prayers have been answered to finally having high quality c.d.c. It is called Cul De Chicken. It is a breast pelt that is full of perfect feathers like you have never seen before and to top things off, it is also treated with Watershed. For those of you that are not familiar with Watershed, it is a liquid form of water proofing feathers. The entire pelt that measures roughly 8” is stocked full of perfect feathers and comes in all the right colors for creating beautiful c.d.c. flies. No more broken tips, unwanted down, and uneven fibers.

 

BRAHMA HEN SOFT HACKLE WITH CHICKABOU

  Dr. Whiting has become famous for producing some of the finest dry fly necks and saddles fly tiers have ever seen or used. Years ago he began selling what was called Chickabou. At the top of this pelt was a clump of feathers that looked very familiar to those who use c.d.c. For years I have personally been using these feathers for c.d.c. instead of the real thing. We have to remember that c.d.c. floats so well because of its air trapping qualities and has nothing to do with the preen oil found in true c.d.c.

  These feathers are all perfect with unbroken tips and completely full. Dr. Tom being the chicken master noticed this and has now provided us a pelt complete with superb c.d.c. plus hen feathers which are perfect for any soft hackle use. You get all of this in one pelt. Only would you find such a great product coming from the hands of Dr. Tom Whiting.

 

 

 

SPEY HACKLE PELTS

  Just one subject matter dealing with a legend would not do Dr. Tom Whiting justice. Besides providing a superb substitute for all of us who love the qualities of c.d.c., Dr. Tom has also provided the steelhead fisherman with a pelt like none have ever seen. His spey hackle pelts when viewed for the first time leave steelhead fly tier in tears. Now these tiers have feathers for which they have longed for years. The individual fibers look to be a mile long and in all the right colors. Yet, this pelt has a cousin that the c.d.c. enthusiast will love just as much. That’s right, a breast pelt with spey type hackle along with the Chickabou. When someone really loves what they do, it is easy to see and Dr. Tom has all of us fly tyers to thank him for his life’s work.

 

 

 

MICRO HERL

Anyone who fly fishes knows the importance of midges. Yet, one problem excises when you put a peacock head on a size 20-26 fly. The head is way out of proportion. “Micro Herl” will not only eliminate this problem, but it can also be used on small baetis nymphs giving your flies tiny little gills. It comes in an array of colors so you are sure to find the right color for your needs.

 

HMH SILHOUETTE VISE

  HMH has long been the vise of choice by all commercial fly tyers do to its endless movements and multiple heads. For 2005 they have produced probably the best vise for under $100.00 that has ever been built. It comes with a life time warranty, a fixed head, pedestal base or c-clamp, and a Teflon smooth rotary action. For anyone looking for an inexpensive vise of the highest quality, the Silhouette can not be beat!

 

 

About The Author

Shane Stalcup is an expert fly tyer and fly fisherman from Denver, Colorado. He is the author of Mayflies: Top to Bottom, and has produced numerous fly tying videos, including “The Mayfly Life Cycle,” “Tying Mayfly Cripples,” and “Tying Mayfly Emergers.” You can order his books and videos online at www.stalcupflies.com.  For comments or questions about these product reviews, contact Shane at: PO Box 211412, Denver, CO 80221. Or email stalcupflies@earthlink.net.