Tying Tip: Choosing Partridge Feathers The Hungarian Partridge is a magnificent bird whose feathers hold incredible potential for fly tying. Its versatility allows it to be used for a plethora of purposes: for tailing material, developing wings, legs, and much more. But procuring the right feathers can be tricky.
You will often find partridge feathers in simple packs that require extensive sorting and may be lacking in both quantity and quality. The full skin of a Partridge, on the other hand, is fairly expensive (often $25-$40 in most retail outlets). But skins not only save immense time in sorting, they are also naturally graduated in size, giving easy and consistent access to the correct feather for your situation at hand. A tier might hesitate to spend the extra money on a skin, but it is almost always worth the price.
- Scott Hetzer is the owner of Eclipse Fly Co. |
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