The 3 Hackle Dry Fly-Joe Humphreys
- Thread starter 3fhobbyist
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Posts 4, 8, 11, and 17 pretty well sum it up. Back in the day, hackle wasn't what it is now. Except for mixing a couple of colors of hackle on a fly (eg. Adams), you really need only one hackle feather to construct a typical dry fly today.
tomgamber
Well-known member
I'm a fan of the bivisible.
EchoRidgeElder
Member
If you were ever fortunate enough to take Joe's class at PSU, he taught the 3-hackle method. If I recall correctly, he highlighted the fact that this fly floated better. As mentioned above, he also claimed that it added some degree of life to the fly.
To walk down memory lane, PSU was on the term system as opposed to the semester system. If you had the class during Spring term, the class met in REC Hall until the weather warmed up. We casted and tied flies until such a time when the weather was good them we went fishing.
Good TImes!
To walk down memory lane, PSU was on the term system as opposed to the semester system. If you had the class during Spring term, the class met in REC Hall until the weather warmed up. We casted and tied flies until such a time when the weather was good them we went fishing.
Good TImes!
Fly Fisherman, Dec. 1993 -- "Hackling Dry Flies," pp. 82, 83, by George Harvey.
Speaking of genetic hackles: "One hackle from such a cape is usually sufficient to tie a quality dry fly."
Further on: "I use two hackles most of the time, but I use only one hackle when I find hackles that are long enough with very little or no webbing and with thin flexible quills."
Further on: "I like a fly with dense hackle that stands out perpendicular to the shank of the hook. This governs whether I should use one or two hackles,
"I believe that in most cases the hackle presents a wing silhouette to the trout...."
From this and the rest of the article, it appears that Mr. Harvey had settled on using only one or two hackles on his dry flies after the development of genetic necks, especially the Metz necks he writes about. In the article, he does not even mention using three hackles for tying his dry flies.
Speaking of genetic hackles: "One hackle from such a cape is usually sufficient to tie a quality dry fly."
Further on: "I use two hackles most of the time, but I use only one hackle when I find hackles that are long enough with very little or no webbing and with thin flexible quills."
Further on: "I like a fly with dense hackle that stands out perpendicular to the shank of the hook. This governs whether I should use one or two hackles,
"I believe that in most cases the hackle presents a wing silhouette to the trout...."
From this and the rest of the article, it appears that Mr. Harvey had settled on using only one or two hackles on his dry flies after the development of genetic necks, especially the Metz necks he writes about. In the article, he does not even mention using three hackles for tying his dry flies.
TimMurphy
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Dear EchoRidgeElder,
When did you take the Angling class? I think I took it Spring of 1979 or 1980? I took it after spending the Winter Tri-Mester casting Fenwick bait casters with Penn reels loaded with Dacron line at targets in Rec Hall, along with casting Fenwick Fenglass fly rods under the Rec Hall bleachers.
They were my two favorite classes, and I was an honor graduate of both! 😉
I graduated in 1982 and in 1992 or maybe 1993 I attended the Stan Cooper TU banquet in Wilkes-Barre. Joe Humphreys was the guest speaker. When I approached him, he stuck his hand out and said, "Tim Murphy, how the Hell have you been." I almost couldn't carry my head around for the rest of the evening it swelled up so much with pride! 😉
Thanks for bringing back memories!
Regards,
Tim Murphy 🙂
falcon
Well-known member
One hackle is sufficient to hackle a fly which is what I use, If you want a fuller hackled fly use two. The second hackle is wrapped between the first wraps to fill out the fly. Harvey was using hackle that was not nearly as good as todays.
tomgamber
Well-known member
Post 23. One hackle. Go.
George Harvey, "Memories, Patterns, and Tactics." DLS Enterprises, 1998, p. 91.
Harvey writes, "I have changed my mind a lot about dry fly hackle through the years. I used to use as many as three hackles, depending on quality, for a standard dry fly. I now use only one hackle if the hackle is long enough."
Harvey writes, "I have changed my mind a lot about dry fly hackle through the years. I used to use as many as three hackles, depending on quality, for a standard dry fly. I now use only one hackle if the hackle is long enough."
Yeah, but have you tried the Trivisible?
tomgamber
Well-known member
Fish can't count.
EchoRidgeElder
Member
Good Evening Tim Murphy,
I had the angling class in the Spring of 1981. Yes, it most certainly was one of my favorite classes as well.
I have a similar story relating to my relationship with Joe. While at the Lancaster Fly Fishing show in 2023 I went up to see if I could shake Joe's hand. He said to me; "You were one of my students right?" "I don't remember your name, but I certainly remember the face." I answered yes I was, back in the early 80's. We chatted for a few minutes as there were a number of folks buying for his attention. He asked if I remembered having class in the Skellar. I told him that I did indeed remember on those days when it rained, Joe would hold class in the Skellar. I seem to recall that it only happened twice during the term. I can remember him giving us a casting demonstration while out at Fisherman"s Paradise. He had a student stand about 30 yards away and had him spread his legs. He cast the fly right between the student's legs. He also called his cast to a notch in a tree on the other side of the stream. Yup, you guessed it, he put the fly right where he stated.
He certainly is one in a million.
I had the angling class in the Spring of 1981. Yes, it most certainly was one of my favorite classes as well.
I have a similar story relating to my relationship with Joe. While at the Lancaster Fly Fishing show in 2023 I went up to see if I could shake Joe's hand. He said to me; "You were one of my students right?" "I don't remember your name, but I certainly remember the face." I answered yes I was, back in the early 80's. We chatted for a few minutes as there were a number of folks buying for his attention. He asked if I remembered having class in the Skellar. I told him that I did indeed remember on those days when it rained, Joe would hold class in the Skellar. I seem to recall that it only happened twice during the term. I can remember him giving us a casting demonstration while out at Fisherman"s Paradise. He had a student stand about 30 yards away and had him spread his legs. He cast the fly right between the student's legs. He also called his cast to a notch in a tree on the other side of the stream. Yup, you guessed it, he put the fly right where he stated.
He certainly is one in a million.
salmo
Well-known member
In speaking about hackles I tie my Adam’s pattern with a single grizzly hackle with one side tinted brown using a marker. Lots easier and faster.
EchoRidgeElder
Member
Most certainly a good idea! Brown Sharpie.
