Whiting brahma hen cape and its uses

[montanacur]

I've been playing around with this material for tying soft hackles. Specifically a pattern called the brahma fmj. I haven't used hen hackle much and am a little confused about how best to use it. I've been tying with cape feathers and they seem really thin and wispy compared to pictures I've seen. I've been tying size 14's. Anyone with experience have any recommendations?

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[s fontinalis]

Those look about right for Brahma...
if you wet the flies and see the profile created, you'll see its perfect for nymph legs
I typically tie the feathers in by the tip, like other soft hackles.
If you want a more sparse hackle, you can strip one side.

I have a badger brahma hen cape i dyed blue as a sub for blue jay.

 

[montanacur]

Thanks for the reply. I'm used to working with game birds for my soft hackles, so the more wispy look seems a bit sparse.

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[fishmandoug]

Looks great to me, but Im no trout.

The other pattern I have tied is a "brahma bugger" which is somewhat like a super bugger's body, but only using the hen feathers.

Here is a great video from Tim Flagler and Tightline productions showing the pattern.

https://youtu.be/59yBlAQectw

 

[montanacur]

Do you use the cape feathers or saddles for your soft hackles. I've used the saddles on bigger soft hackles like the October caddis that Tim ties.

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[silver creek]

The Tabou Caddis Emerger is an excellent pattern the uses the Whiting Brahma saddle feathers. You can also use the philoplumes from a Pheasant.

The Tabou Caddis Emerger | Global FlyFisher | Made with only two materials, this highly effective caddis emerger pattern will take only minutes to tie and allow you to load up your fly box with Global Fly Fisher's hottest new pattern.

YouTube

 

[flytire]

that brahma hen in the original post looks to be very fine fibers compared to the feathers i have

 

[montanacur]

Flytire, mine is a hen cape.

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[flytire]

so isnt mine

 

[jaydub]

Flytire,

I think yours is the saddle portion. The capes are more like a badger hen neck, with just a few of the speckled feathers on the sides.

 

[fshng2]

Here is a great video from Tim Flagler and Tightline productions showing the pattern.

YouTube

Tim has some good videos, but this one really piqued my interest.
Thanks for sharing.