Just as a sidelight and an idea, I was in my favorite flyshop yesterday and decided to do something I've never done before- go look at the prices of hackles.
The biggest observation I made is the comparison between a half-neck and a 100 pak- in the Whiting line, which is all they carry. The 100 pak was $11. The half saddle was $22. The half saddle had at least 4 times as many hackles on it as the 100 pak, so obviously the price per fly was less, but the overall cost more if you needed variety, not quantity. My suggestion to all of you who have a hard time springing $$$ for more hackle than you need: Take advantage of the numbers in here (vfb) and do some group buying. Do a hackle-swap. (And this will only work with saddles.) For example: A 4-person swap would cost each tier $22 for a half saddle. Each would buy a different color half saddle. Divide the saddles equally in 4 parts and swap 3/4ths off. You'd get 3 colors in return and have 4 colors, and more of each than buying 4- 100 paks. Setting up the swap and buying what the swappers want would be a key to success, as well as honesty in the divvying up. As many as you want can be in the swap, and it can be configured to meet the budgets of all in it. Ten swappers could each buy a gold saddle, swap off 9/10ths, and have a gold-sized collection of 10 different colors in return- a full tying repetoir of every color for the cost of one saddle. Do this swap through Byard for purchasing the saddles . He can order what he doesn't have. He may even be able to divide the necks and send them to the individual swappers. Mind you, I'm not volunteering him for anything. Just an idea. DonO
