No-hackles

[RipRap]

I have tied no-hackles with every kind of material for the wings, except foam. I never could find any thin enough to silhouette the wings properly. Now, I see there is some really thin foam available out there ( I actually stumbled on some that might work pretty well; the new DVD player was wrapped in it) and thought it might be worth a try. Anyone on here ever tie a few of these up with foam wings? If so, any issues with durability using thin foam in that situation? Thanks

RR

[Curtis Fry]

The foam I've tried with no-hackles tears way too easily. You might see if Cheech has had any luck with Kip's foam.

IMHO, mallard quill feathers are the way to go. They'll get beat up for sure, but I think that's part of the reason for their effectiveness. I sometimes coat them with hairspray or coat the edges with very small amounts of head cement to increase longevity.

If you want to try something different, give turkey flats a try -- they're not as flexible as mallard, but they're nice and durable. I tie them in a "V" (90 degrees apart) so that one wing is on the water and the other is standing upright. Killer pattern. The V-wing Baetis is a great pattern on the LP.