Fly Tying Materials for Beginners - Hackle Primer

What's the difference between a cape or a neck and a saddle? Isn't a rooster just a chicken? Are their feathers really *that* different from a hen's feathers?

This is the first instructional video in the "Fly Tying Materials for Beginners" series where we explore all the basics on what's what when it comes to hackle from chickens.

Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. I've been uploading at least three new videos a week (usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).

Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know in the comments if you have any tying tips you would like to share or if you have any patterns you would like to see tied here.

[rodchurchill]

Thank You ! Been trying to find out about hackle types and what to use . It's all in a nutshell here . Just started tying again after 20 + yrs . Your videos are the best out there, hands down .

[edwardchavez]

Sir Matt you are the man you have answered my questions. Pretty awesome it's coming in the form of a video on your Channel. Thank You Sir.

[forgottenforest]

SWEET I am new a fly tying this helped so much. Thank you

[howardmceachern]

Matt, thanks for the information, I always like to go back to the basics on anything I do.

[JammyErwin]

Wow, I didn’t know any of that - except that Whiting hackle is pricey. I’ve been using the same grizzly hackle for all my flies, whether it’s a dry fly or a wet fly. Thanks!

[macmcwhirter]

Matt,
The information you supply is always top notch. I was given probably 30 unmarked capes and saddles and now, thanks to this YouTube video, I have a better idea of ways to use them.
Keep the tying videos coming! I thoroughly enjoy each one, especially the series on Smokies flies.

[daverichards]

Brilliant description. Keeping it simple to start with, this area can really put people off fly tying. I certainly was, until
I watched a lot of videos and read some more! Your videos are certainly a very useful and high quality resource for fly tyers. Thank you 🙏 for sharing your knowledge and expertise

[rpaulick]

Thanks! I’m ten steps ahead of the fly tying learning curve even after to many years.

[vckxz]

Matt I'd just like to say thank you so much for the help. As a person new to hobby, you have taught me an incredible amount. There's nothing in specific that I can narrow it down to and I thank you for that. Keep making the videos mate.

[marshallbaldwin]

Great information on hackles. Thank you for making it easier to understand.

[harryjoesather]

ALWAYS GETTING GOOD INFO FROM YOU MATT...THANKS

[danatavares]

This is a great video, thank you. As a newbie I'm still trying to learn about the different types of materials and why to choose which for what. You helped a lot by talking a bit about what size feathers available on which materials and sizes of hooks that would correspond to. Great info and not something I've seen discusses anywhere else. BTW, all your videos are great.

[cdnsparky]

Thank you for the explanation. I'll have to look for more of these videos

[paulmerritt]

Great stuff Matt! Explains WHY it is important to know what flies you want to tie before diving into a hackle purchase.
, AND that you can get a few different size feathers from each type of neck / saddle.

[kentw.]

Thankyou for sharing this video with us.
I enjoyed watching it.
Aloha🌴🎣🏄‍♂️

[mikeney]

Nice review/video on feathers.thanks for sharing!!.

[paulsalmon]

Very informative Matt I got a lot from it. $60 to $100 plus for Whiting half saddles in Australia mate.

[bigdaddy]

Great job Matt. Informative and certainly helpful! Thanks

[TheAlex]

Like this kind of video!! Thanks for gearing towards the reviews and breakdowns!! It supplements the fly history aspect of the channel and is working great 💪

[CBL]

Your videos are so informative. As a newbie it’s great to have your vids as a resource. Keep them coming.