woody flanks

[ted patlen]

woody flank.jpg (69.23 KiB) Viewed 160 times

i've put this photo in to show the difference to some of the newer tyers...

these 2 flank feathers are from different parts of the duck, exactly where i'm not 100% sure , but that doesn't matter,

the egg shaped one on the right has slightly softer and thicker fibers making it much easier to use for wet fly wings the classic breast feather on the left is the dry fly tyers wet dream.

on some duck the side flanks towards the cdc end of the bird, are very soft...but (no joke intended) there are not to many quality marked feathers there.

[narcodog]

I have never seen that explained in such a way. I'm gonna be curious what others have to say.

[mikevalla]

Narc---Teddy is correct. It's best to match the particular woody feather to the fly pattern in mind. Whether for a wet, dry, or nymph. A particular flank feather has a "best use" fit.

I expalined some of that, briefly, on page 117. Some feathers are too curved, or uneven etc. And like I said---there are variations in quality. As I said, there is an "appropriatness" factor with woody.

Thanks, Ted, for pointing this out

[narcodog]

Mike I read your book while sitting in the rain in my rig on the Big Hole and now recall what you said but this photo brings it into perspective. I can also see the difference in the feather that was discussed on JB's site sometime ago. I'll have to look at the complete Woody skin I have so I can see the difference between the feathers.

[ewpeper]

It seems to me I find great variations in quality between woodies (and other ducks) shot in, say, October in the northern states versus those shot in December down south. The later season birds seem to have much more developed feathers in terms of both quantity and quality of color and fibers.

Eric

[willowhead]

Think i'll go over to the Dette shop and buy a Woody skin......