Author Topic: Fragile Wood Duck Flank (Read 867 times)

Domenick Swentosky · « **on:** March 01, 2010, 02:21:37 PM »

Hey guys, I've been tying and fishing Loren's Baron lately and it's bringing a lot of fish to hand for me. Great pattern, but I'm having trouble with the durability of the wood duck flank used for the tail. I'd just substitute pheasant tail or something similar, but I really like the look of the wood duck. I also use this in some micronymphs for tails.

After catching a few fish the nymph starts to lose some of those tail feathers and after many fish, I've got almost no tail left. It's not a matter of tying them in. They appear to be "breaking" or getting cut off. Maybe it's all those big fish teeth.

Anyway, Loren or anyone else, do you have any tips? Do you guys have this problem?

Taking this issue and my chipping beads issue, it looks like I'm having a durability problem with my flies lately, huh?

Domenick

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #1 on:** March 01, 2010, 03:53:46 PM »

where are they breaking off at? I like the wood duck look on nymphs but it is not that sturdy of a material.

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #2 on:** March 01, 2010, 08:08:16 PM »

Hey Mark, yeah they're kinda coming off around the tie in point. Breaking is probably too strong of a word. I don't know, some of the fibers just seem to get short or come off. Let's say I start with 15 or so and I'm ending up with maybe 5 -- real sparse. Maybe my feathers are kind of dried out. Don't seem that way.

DS

Loren Williams · « **Reply #3 on:** March 02, 2010, 08:02:28 AM »

I guess I don't see wear and tear from fish mouths as being a problem

CdL will be more durable-I just love my woodie flank.

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #4 on:** March 02, 2010, 08:54:10 AM »

If you got some dried out feathers it could be the problem. Just about any feather is going to start showing some battle scars after it catches a good amount of trout. Also the sparser look after catching a few might look better to the fish.

I would try getting some new wood Duck from a different source and see if that helps.

Domenick Swentosky · « **Reply #5 on:** March 02, 2010, 12:45:03 PM »

You know what, I'm an idiot. I just realized that what I've been using is mallard flank dyed wood duck color. I've had it for a long while and the package just says "wood duck" on it. But it's mallard flank. I think I'll stop at the shop in the next couple days and pick up the real deal. Well, the good news is, mallard flank still attracts a lot of trout.

Enjoy the day.
Domenick

Mark Hanes · « **Reply #6 on:** March 02, 2010, 12:54:56 PM »

That explains it sometimes the mallard flank feathers will get pretty brittle after they are dyed.

Good luck finding some wood duck flank it is pretty expensive.

Adam Wellington · « **Reply #7 on:** March 02, 2010, 01:05:23 PM »

Befriend some Duck hunters. Or start hunting them yourself. I get out for late season only about 2-4 days a year and I can come up with a ton of feathers. Unfortunately there are no Wood Duck around for late season. If the ducks aren't getting stuffed and mounted, most often the feathers just end up in the garbage.

Dylan Jones · « **Reply #8 on:** March 02, 2010, 01:18:22 PM »

Quote from: Loren Williams on March 02, 2010, 08:02:28 AM

I guess I don't see wear and tear from fish mouths as being a problem CdL will be more durable-I just love my woodie flank.

Totally agree with Loren here, I'm willing to trade a fly a fish. I use mostly mallard and very recently coc de leon. Can't say as I noticed a difference as I usually lose the fly before it has a chance to deteriorate.