Fly Tying: Bead Head Crystal Soft Hackle

For this tutorial, a pattern the pattern I chose to tie was the Bead Head Crystal Soft Hackle. This is an intermediate pattern, with the "crystal" section of its name deriving from the type of synthetic material used in the body. Feel free to substitute other colors (which do not have to be of the "crystal" variety), and don't forget about fluorescent colors... ;-)
Thanks for viewing this TH-cam fly tying tutorial, and I encourage you to view my additional videos at the following website: www.troutandfea...
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Fly fishing for beginners can be difficult at first, thus be sure to stick with it and ask others for advice. If in the need for some helpful tips and other fly tying and fly fishing information, be sure to check out my "Trout and Feather" accounts on Facebook and Instagram...

[@andrewcox2404]

Tim - I have been overdressing my soft hackles using both sides of the partridge feather. Thanks for showing the alternative. The fly looks so much better with less hackle.

[@germansanchezlucero1385]

I love you dude!

[@brentarnett]

Really enjoyed the video.It is well done. THANKS

[@TimCammisa]

Thanks, Mike, and I tend to go with some of the SLF dubbings on a lot of my flies. It's nice material to work with, but like all, you have to find the color you want.

[@MikeBlezien]

that's a nice soft hackle, never tried using the SLF prism before looks like some nice stuff.
Mike

[@TimCammisa]

No problem, Andrew; I wish someone would have shown me earlier, too!

[@TimCammisa]

Thanks, Brent; I really appreciate the comment!
Tim

[@russelllieser4226]

Great fly. Where on the pardrige do you get the feather? What sizes are most tied.

[@TimCammisa]

Thanks for the comments, Russell, and I tend to select from the breast or neck of a Hungarian Partridge. The closer to the neck, the smaller the fibers tend to be. Thanks for checking. Tim www.troutandfeather.com

[@TimCammisa]

Thanks for the comments, Pete, and no, I haven't tried the darker color on this. That's not bc I don't think it would perform well; I simply have not tried it. The darker color is very nice and I use that material for a lot of patterns as a substitute for peacock w/ flash. I prefer the lighter when using the pattern as more of an attractor fly, but let me know how your pattern looks. Thanks, and hope all is well with you!

[@ZugbugPete]

Another fantastic fly, Tim! At the start of the video you showed a comparison between Ice Dub Peacock and SLF Prism peacock dubbing. Have you ever tried this pattern using the Ice Dub Peacock, for a darker pattern? I'm thinking of trying that - in part because that's what I have on hand (I don't have the SLF Prism ... for the moment...) and in part because I'm in need of another flashy yet darker green soft-hackle. That said, the SLF Prism dubbing is on my "to acquire soon" list. -ZugbugPete