For me burned goose is the choice to take when the fly is big and the fibers need to stand out. I used schlappen for the throat on this one, and because I didn't have the right colour dubbing, the front body is made of purple wool yarn with an underhackle of fuchsia saddle hackle, as base for the rib and flowing yellow burned goose - see if you can spot it ;-). The one above was tied on a #3/0 AJ spey hook.
For smaller flies I choose schlappen if the fly should have a more robust appearance and where it is ok that the fibers marries at the tips, like in this Gold Speal tied on a #5 AJ spey hook.
But my absolute favorite hacklewise is grey heron. In my country heron is forbidden to hunt, but it is still allowed to buy old stuffed birds at flea markets, so I have a stuffed and more and more scruffy grey heron in my home, yes. Depending on where on the body you pick the hackle you get long soft and free flowing single fibers or long and more schlappen like feathers. Here both characteristics of the fibers can be appreciated on flies tied on #1,5 AJ spey hooks.
Long single fiber hackle on a Hot Peacock Spey:
Long schlappen-like hackle on a Lady Caroline:
And thank you all for a warm welcome ;-)
Søren
