by Terry Dunford
Fly Tying Club, Publisher

When I first started the art of fly tying, I had many questions about Fly Tying Feathers. I’ve done extensive research since then and now aim to provide you with an exhaustive, thorough guide to Fly Tying Feathers and their uses. This article will provide you with information about the most used types of features used in tying flies. I will also include great photos so you can gain a visual perspective when reading the information provided to you herein.

Fly tying feathers are usually broken down into two main categories – Dry Fly Feathers and Wet Fly Feathers. Feathers are utilized in a variety of ways. For example, feathers can be used as body material, wings, throats, collars, tails, hackles, cheeks and sides.

Dry Fly Feathers

The most widely-used feathers for dry fly wings are mallard, wood duck, and teal flank feathers. Other feathers used include hen, mallard quill and turkey flats. Certain feathers are selected for their coloration and visual appearance, whereas others are chosen for their capability to absorb or deter water.

Wet Fly Feathers

Feathers used in tying steelhead, salmon, streamers, saltwater and other larger flies are often very colorful and are usually wet flies. Here you will be using the larger saddle and schlappen feathers from chickens, flank feathers from many waterfowl species and some of the more colorful pheasant species. The most common feathers used for wet flies include marabou, hen, mallard quill, and ostrich herl.

CDC

CDC is an abbreviation for the fly tying term “cul de canard.” CDC feathers are exceptionally fluffy feathers and are also known as "oil gland feathers" due to the feathers being located close to a duck’s oil production gland which is the preen gland. This location enables oils to become absorbed and will then result in dry flies becoming buoyant and water resistant (dry). These very useful feathers are available in nearly all colors, including dark olive, natural brown, medium olive, light dun, yellow olive, white, wood duck, slate dun, dark brown, light brown, black, salmon, rust, pale and yellow to name a few. CDC feathers can be used for a very long list of fly patterns, but to name a few CDC feathers can be used for parachute flies, caddis wings, or looped for emerger wings. CDC can also be of huge value when used as hackle for both dry and wet fly patterns.

CDC Oiler Puffs are great for both emergers and dry flies. These tiny feathers lack observable stems and are frequently called nipple plumes due to the fact that they are located on the nipple of the preen gland. When tied in as wing posts, these fluffy feathers entrap lots of air. Oiler Puffs can be tied the usual way, or reverse tied to take advantage of the naturally integrated bubble created by the base of the feather. This “CDC Bubble” is usually intended to float the fly in the surface film of moving water.

Marabou

Marabou, or Blood Quill, is the supple, fluffy, soft feathers from turkeys and chickens and flow marvelously in the water. Marabou gets its name from the Marabou stork located in South Africa, which was formerly the singular source of this fluffy feather. However, in the late 1930’s, it was discovered that turkey down was incredibly alike, and a new, innovative industry came into existence. Poultry processing now produces mass quantities of Marabou.

Marabou is frequently used for tails and wings in flies and jigs. Once a marabou fly penetrates the water, it immediately becomes lively, and this dynamic, vivacious act draws curiosity from even the most laid-back fish. This classic fly tying material is also widely used in nymph patterns and big saltwater streamers. Marabou is dyed many different colors, and come in numerous different types, such as strung marabou or blood quills, marabou plumes, wooly bugger marabou, mini marabou, and grizzly marabou.

Of all the diverse feathers used in fly tying, marabou feathers have to be one of the most distinctive and valuable. The great thing about Marabou is that beginner fly tyer’s can still create realistic replications, which is great reason why beginning fly tyer’s should use it frequently.

Peacock

Peacock herl is well-recognized and cherished by fly tyers for its glistening quality and vibrant color. These feathers are used to imitate bodies that are energetic and lively when they enter the water. The finest peacock herl can typically be located near the eye of the feather.

Peacock herl as well as Ostrich plume herl is used as “butts” or at times as body material on numerous fly patterns. Peacock and Ostrich herl is also occasionally used as wing, overwing, or underwing material on numerous streamer fly patterns. Peacock Herl is also commonly used to form naturally flashy tails, great looking nymphs and other various types of bodies.

Pheasant

The most commonly used pheasant feathers are taken from the Ringneck pheasant; however, there are various fly recipes that call for Amherst or Golden pheasant neck feathers. Ringneck pheasant whole skins can be a tremendously precious asset to any fly tyer because any tyer should be able to tie hundreds of flies with just one full skin. Pheasant Tail feathers can, as usual, be tyed to imitate bodies, legs, wingcases, and tails. Pheasant body feathers can be used to create very appealing. Most of the pheasant feathers can be used for one thing or another. There are many species of pheasant, which in the tying field usually include Ringnecks, Golden, Silver, and Amhearst just to name a few. The crest (head) feathers from the Golden and Amhearst pheasant are frequently used as tails on Atlantic salmon, Steelhead, and other fly patterns. Body feathers of the Golden Pheasant can be used to tie on wings, body hackle and tails.

CHECK BACK SOON TO READ PART 2
Estimated Time of Publication: 05/12/10