Create Profile or Login

Forum Menu

Home > Forum Home > Freshwater Fishing > Fly Tying

What type of feathers to use for popper tails?

  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - What type of feathers to use for popper tails? Forum Search Events FAQ FAQRegister RegisterLogin Login

 Post Reply Post Reply
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ThomasW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: What type of feathers to use for popper tails?
    Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 12:19pm
ThomasW View Drop Down
Titanium
Titanium
Avatar

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Location: Byelorussian SSR
Status: Offline
Points: 6349

I want to tie a few surf poppers, but would like to know what sort of feathers to buy?

Went into the local shop and there was heaps of different types and grades which just confused me.

Wanting feathers like these ones

or

http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/4/7/8/5/7/6/webimg/510247292_o.jpg



Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Uncle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 12:58pm
Uncle View Drop Down
Moderator - Black Belt
Moderator - Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 2003
Location: Tauranga, NZ
Status: Offline
Points: 14344
they look like dyed saddle hackle feathers Thomas
Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ThomasW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 1:17pm
ThomasW View Drop Down
Titanium
Titanium
Avatar

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Location: Byelorussian SSR
Status: Offline
Points: 6349
Do you think it would make much of a difference if I used neck hackle instead of saddle hackle?
Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Uncle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 1:23pm
Uncle View Drop Down
Moderator - Black Belt
Moderator - Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 2003
Location: Tauranga, NZ
Status: Offline
Points: 14344

Neck hackles would be shorter, I'd think so would be difficult getting the tail long enough along with the winds required to make the "hackle" collar
Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ThomasW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 2:06pm
ThomasW View Drop Down
Titanium
Titanium
Avatar

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Location: Byelorussian SSR
Status: Offline
Points: 6349

Thanks. Looks like I am going to need to order a couple of packs of Saddle Hackle.  I thought Saddlebacks were basically extinct, what are we doing using them for fly tying. 

Have lost my bobbin cotton holding thingy so going to have to order one of them also, now just need to find the hooks I ordered from America two winters ago. 

Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Uncle Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 3:08pm
Uncle View Drop Down
Moderator - Black Belt
Moderator - Black Belt
Avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 2003
Location: Tauranga, NZ
Status: Offline
Points: 14344
Originally posted by ThomasW ThomasW wrote:

Thanks. Looks like I am going to need to order a couple of packs of Saddle Hackle.  I thought Saddlebacks were basically extinct, what are we doing using them for fly tying. 


 
https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=saddle+hackles&hl=en&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=KbPzT4XmG6m6iQeE5ZWEBw&ved=0CEIQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=635
 Wink
Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote ThomasW Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 4:37pm
ThomasW View Drop Down
Titanium
Titanium
Avatar

Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Location: Byelorussian SSR
Status: Offline
Points: 6349
Thats a lot of dead birdies. 
Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote StPaul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 8:41am
StPaul View Drop Down
Silver
Silver
Avatar

Joined: 17 Jul 2002
Location: Picton, NZ
Status: Offline
Points: 447
I have saddle hackle in white, chartreuse and orange if ya need some
Back to Top
Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Jaapie Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 12:58pm
Jaapie View Drop Down
Platinum
Platinum
Avatar

Joined: 14 Apr 2003
Location: Guinea Bassau
Status: Offline
Points: 2803
Mate, if I could make a suggestion-
 
I'd be looking at Marabou too (for movement) and also a bit of bucktail for the tail (stiffness) and length. The soft feathers have a tendency to wrap if used by themselves. The bit of stiff bucktail stops this - you don't need a lot on the fly.
 
Longer saddle hackles are ok but they really do twist around the hook.
 
Just a thought.....
"Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught,will we realize that we cannot eat money" - 19th Century Indian Creed
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
Forum Jump
Forum Permissions View Drop Down


This page was generated in 0.441 seconds.

Most Thanked Forum Posts

3 Manukau Harbour & West Coa...
3 Manukau Harbour & West Coa...
2 Manukau Harbour & West Coa...
2 Manukau Harbour & West Coa...
2 Manukau Harbour & West Coa...
2 Out with the "Twelves&quo...
2 New anchor setup, could use so...
2 Manukau Harbour & West Coa...
2 Freeing a stuck anchor ...
2 Freeing a stuck anchor ...

Fishing Reports Visit Reports

Saltwater Fishing Reports
Top of the South Fishing Report - 23/01/26

Snapper, cod and marlin on the menu Despite the weather we have had recently, when... Read More >

23 Jan 2026
Saltwater Fishing Reports
Bream Bay Fishing Report - 23/01/26

Snapper out deep in cooler water As happens at this time of the year, the... Read More >

22 Jan 2026
Saltwater Fishing Reports
Inner Hauraki Gulf Fishing Report - 23/01/26

Small snapper the norm Over the last 10 years I have noticed with great concern the... Read More >

22 Jan 2026
Freshwater Fishing Reports
Rotorua Fishing Report - 23/01/26

Fishing will be exceptional when water clears The massive amount of rainfall to hit the... Read More >

22 Jan 2026
Fishing bite times Fishing bite times

Major Bites

Minor Bites

Major Bites

Minor Bites

All information © 2026 The Fishing Website