Whiting Farms breeds the hackle most of the fly fishing world ties on, and they do it about twenty miles from our front door in Delta County, western Colorado. Dr. Tom Whiting started the operation in 1989 after acquiring Henry Hoffman's Hoffman Hackle line — the man who developed the first genuine dry fly saddle. He has a Ph.D. in poultry genetics, and it shows.
Understanding the grades
Whiting runs what they call the Olympic Grading System, introduced for the 1999/2000 season: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The important thing to know is that the floor is high. Every pelt sold at retail — any grade — has to have a supple quill, no twist, dense barbing, and be more than 85% web-free. Pelts that miss that never reach a shop.
| What moves a pelt up a grade | |
|---|---|
| Usable feather length | More of the feather is tyable |
| Uniformity | Feathers run consistent across the pelt |
| Hook size range | A wider spread of sizes off one skin |
| Feather count | Denser pelt, more flies per cape |
| Barb stiffness and stem condition | How the fibre stands and how the quill wraps |
| Colour consistency | Even tone across the skin |
Whiting assesses more than 25 elements in total, and — this is the part tyers care about — the grading is held consistent year to year. It does not drift to meet demand or hit a sales number. A Bronze cape this season is the same standard as a Bronze cape three seasons ago.
The genetic lines
| Line | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Whiting | The flagship dry fly cape and saddle — stiffest, densest hackle they breed |
| High & Dry | Widest colour range of the dry fly lines. Sold in one standard grade, comparable to Bronze |
| Hebert Miner | The traditionalist's line. Best range of natural duns, browns, creams and badger |
| Coq de Leon | From Spanish stock imported in the mid-1990s. Whiting is the only breeder offering it in both rooster and hen |
| Brahma Hen | Gray partridge substitute — the modern standard for soft hackles |
| American | Large cape feathers and extra-long saddles for saltwater, warm water and wet flies |
| 4B | Rooster for collars, streamer wings and quill bodies; hen for soft hackles and wing cases |
| Spey | Hair-like capes and saddles — heron substitute for salmon flies and shrimp patterns |
What we stock. Bronze and Silver capes and half capes, Pro Grade capes and saddles, High & Dry, hen capes and hen saddles, Coq de Leon mayfly tailing packs and Coq de Leon hen soft hackle with Chickabou, Brahma hen soft hackle with Chickabou, Chickabou patches, Super Bou, Bugger packs, the Introductory Hackle Pack, the Fly Tier's Variety Pack and the W-100 hackle gauge.
New to buying hackle? Start with the Introductory Hackle Pack or a Bronze half cape rather than a full Platinum. You will tie more flies and learn more about what you actually want. Call the shop at 970-964-9991 and we will talk through which grade and which line suits the sizes you tie.
Whiting does not sell direct to consumers — their hackle only moves through shops like ours.
Ed's Fly Shop, 432 E Main St, downtown Montrose, Colorado.
