Recently tied soft hackle

[kevinfry]

Been working on tying soft hackle flies for trout fishing.....anyone got suggestions?

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[kevinfry]

Practice practice

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[DanMarino]

That looks great.

[kevinfry]

I'm getting the hang of it!

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[belairfishing]

Without a doubt, I have consistently caught more trout on a soft hackle than anything else. What are you using for the tail?

In mine, I use mallard flank for the tail, hare's dubbing for the body, small wire for ribbing, and partridge for the hackle. I usually tie a very small (if at all) dubbing ball behind the soft hackle - I don't think it's necessary, at least it hasn't made a difference for me. Try different things and see what works. I have used very fine mono for ribbing instead of wire, tied some with bead in front of and being the hackle, with tail and without tail.

That's the beauty of soft hackles - they almost always look like something a fish wants to eat, no matter how it's tied.

I have some old pics somewhere I'll dig up and post.

And don't forget, you can tie them in olive, light brown, dark brown, and for sulfurs in yellow too.

How do you fish them? I catch most downstream on the swing - I cast 1/4 downstream, let it swing, and start to lift at the end of the swing. If you really want to geek out on soft hackles, google Leisenring Lift!

Good luck and keep tying,

Steve

[kevinfry]

I use a variety of things for the tail but those two have fibers of grizzly dry fly hackle. I have also used a few strands of bucktail, peacock sword and some turkey feather fibers. I have tied most with olive, rust or cream. I also have many peacock herl bodied soft hackles....I have been adding the dubbing ball you mentioned in my last few tries and have also used ostrich wrapped like peacock herl.

Swinging is the plan with these!

[kevinfry]

Innovative from a tellico nymph

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[Mark]

Very nice work.

I know they're meant for trout, but I bet they'd be incredibly productive for bluegills.