Generic Soft Hackle

Generic Soft HackleThe term “soft hackle” refers to a style of wet fly, not a specific pattern. The soft hackle can be tied with many different body materials, colors, hackles, ribbing, hooks and even flash. What makes it a “soft hackle” is the use of some bird hackle that is “soft” rather than stiff, as one would use for dry flies. Also, the hackle is sparse, and wrapped around the hook, giving a spider-leg appearance. Hungarian partridge is the primary “soft hackle” feather used in the United States. However, starling, pheasant, India hen back and many others can be used. For most soft hackles, a feather that is darkish in color with good speckles or barring is best. Soft hackle flies are typically tied in sizes 12 to 16.

The following tie was illustrated using the following materials:

Hook: Daiichi 1550 size 12 (standard wet fly hook)
Thread: 6/0 rust brown
Abdomen: brown floss
Ribbing: ultra thin copper wire
Thorax: dubbing to match color of abdomen
Hackle: partridge or (my preferred soft hackle) India Hen Back

GSH11. Dress the hook with thread, and tie in the copper wire first, followed by the floss. Note that the tie-in point for both is near the eye of the hook. This will help prevent a “bump” at the rear, if the material were tied in at that location.

GSH22. Wrap the hook shank with the floss, and tie off. Next, counter-wrap with the copper wire, and tie off. Keep the abdomen “sleek”.

GSH33. Using the dubbing, create a small ball for a thorax.

GSH44. Prepare the hackle for tying in. Identify 6 or 7 fibers on each side of the stem which are equal to the length of the hook shank. Strip or trim off all the longer fibers.

GSH55. Now, trim off the tip, leaving enough to tie in.

GSH66. Tie in the hackle by the tip.

GSH77. Wind the hackle two times around the shank, tie off and whip finish. Trim away the excess hackle stem. Done.