Rhea

**flyfishforfun** · November 7th, 2008, 09:45 AM

Hey guys,
When you use rhea, do you split the stem and wrap it or do you just cut off from the stem and tie in? If you split, how do you do this? Its kinda expensive feather, and i don't think trial and error, ruining a bunch of feathers is a great option! Any advice on splitting would be great.

Second question- i find that rhea varies considerably in quality- some seems really burnt and pretty short plumes, compared to others. Where do you find is best to get rhea from? Either a specific supplier or a specific brand?

Thanks

**phearless** · November 7th, 2008, 09:59 AM

Hmmm, it can be tricky, but usually not.
For your first try, soak the feather in warm, body temp, water for 15 minutes or so.
Grasp the feather by the tip in one hand and hold several fibers in the other.
Pull gently but firmly down and you should see the fibres seperate from the quill, but staying attached to the strip you are pulling off.
You may get two or three pieces, but usually you can get one long hackle off it.
Don't worry if you get some clumps off the feather, these can be tied in very easily.

As for where to get Rhea, wherever you can.
Quality has always been an issue. Just check before you buy.

Hareline ostrich plumes can be a very good substitute. You didn't hear that from me.

If you are going to tie intruders, get some Amherst for collars. looks great.
Way tougher to strip, I usually just tie in small clumps and rotate for collars

Above all, have fun with it.

**flyfishforfun** · November 7th, 2008, 10:28 AM

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'll need to look into those ostrich plumes.

Is there an advantage to splitting? i feel like it might result in the feather radiating out at more of an angle from the shank, causing more of a pulsing motion of the fly than when you tie in clumps, but as i've not done it, i'm not sure?

**phearless** · November 7th, 2008, 11:14 AM

Pulsing good!

**Chilkootangler** · November 7th, 2008, 11:52 AM

I strip or pick and wrap depending on how lazy I feel. I ensure a good radiating effect by spinning a polar bear under collar or use extra long trilobal yarn wrapped several times around.

For the polar bear collar, I make a dubbing loop, wax it, place polar bear hair in it and spin. Then the dubbing rope is wrapped and tamed with a few back wraps. Tod Scharf showed me this trick.

If at all possible inspect the feathers you buy as mail order can sometimes sell you short.

Check out the heron hackle at the Canadian Tube Fly website, as a substitute.

Steve

**phearless** · November 7th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Here is one of my faves.
This has rhea wrapped as a hackle and tied on in clumps.
Notice the polar collar at the rear that chilkoot was mentioning.
Todd is a master of intruder style flies.
For the collar short stiff polar is desired.

http://www.flyfishbc.com/photopost/s....php/photo/101

**flyfishforfun** · November 10th, 2008, 08:50 AM

I picked up these at the weekend- i've not seen them before! I like! I couldn't resist, so i bought a bunch of them! Not tied any flies with them yet, but when i do i'll post a pic.