1. Troutnut Forum
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2. Fly Tying
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3. Good Hackle Pliers?

Would appreciate any help with finding well made hackle pliers, like the older Herb Howard ones. I don't want the rotating type, not the rubber pad ones, not the clip ones. Just the old sytle clamp ones and well made too. Thanks.

Do a search and read my post under fly tying tools page 2.

I think I've used them all but can't tell you what I have since they all lack name markings. However, I can tell you that the one I like the best is the Dorin teardrop style. It really holds the tip of a hackle feather well. With the others, I've done everything from coating the jaws with liquid plastic to filing grooves in the jaws to keep the hackle tip from sliding out. Just an opinion based on my own personal experience.

To anyone who is interested in the hackle pliers I mentioned in a post a couple of months ago Onestonefly found it and here is a picture.



I have had virtually every type of hackle pliers on the market and these hackle pliers have never slipped, or broken, a feather. Feathers have broken but not at the clamping point of the pliers. The really fine stems of small hackles or partridge feathers sometimes are just too fragile to be wound. The plier has worked flawlessly for me.

It is available at Bob Marriot's.