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3. hair extensions

I was very recently told by a supplier not to expect Whiting grizzly saddles; the hair/hackle fad took root in Europe and much is being sold there.

So lame!!! They should start producing an inferior product for the fashion scene. I doubt they are as stringent on their hackle selection as fly tiers, although I may be underestimating that group.

sad that companies built by fly tyers choose to ignore our needs but wll want us back when the fad dies out

It proves that even our beloved fly fishing industry is driven by the almighty dollar. Anyone know how to raise birds for quality hackle?

I was working in a fly shop in Oregon when this became a trend. It was sad seeing all those feather leave the store that would never reach their full potential then be discarded to make room for the next fashion crazy.

Tim,

You're bumming us out man! I was hoping we were done with this...Is this why you posted the quetion a few weeks back about the alternate hackle? Was it Collins hackle?

Spence

PS...Tim...I had Ed McCoy down to speak last night at the club from Hawkins' up your way. He spoke about dry-fly fishing the Manistee...Very good presentation. He is in love with the Iso...Imagine that?! :) He also is fond of Ernie's bug.

He claimed that last seasons Henny action there was second to none and the best he can remember. He is thinking that all this snow may help us out there next spring. My fingers are crossed! We could use a bit of a thaw from time to time, and hopefully not an all at once deal.

"They should start producing an inferior product for the fashion scene."

Yeah, Kyle, why didn't they think of that? Sell 'em some cheap Chinese hackle if all they're gonna do is wear them in their hair until they fall apart. I'm surprised nobody came up with that solution. Perhaps you should go into the hackle business, Kyle?

I remember some Web commentary about this whole issue a while back. People were HORRIFIED that these chickens were KILLED for their feathers. Uh, excuse me, where do you think your KFC or Chicken McNuggets come from? Made in a factory?

Jonathon

Spence,
I believe this snow pack will do nothing but benefit Spring fishing. I hope it stays cooler than normal through the Spring. The year Mount St. Helen blew its top and created a lengthy cool spring was a memorable one on the river. I'm looking all over for hackle. Not happy about the latest development.

I find the whole thing mysterious, Tim. From what I've been told, the big fashion demand is mostly for the super saddles. For every saddle patch, there's got to be a neck, right? Where are they?

Funny you should mention this...I peruse e-bay often, and just recently noticed that on many of the cape/saddle auctions they are starting to mention hair extensions again. That went away for awhile, when the fad died over here. I know a few guys who cleaned up during that time, I mean really cleaned up! Curiously enough, Charlie Collins refused to sell to the hair extension crowds and it even caused a little friction with the fly tying customers. If he didn't know you by name, you basically were not getting any feathers.

Thanks for the heads up, CJ