tying GPs

[newsteelyman]

what feather's do you use for the gp "back"/wing. where do the come from on the pheasant.
thanx
Brian

[Rick Baerg]

Hey Brian the feather used to tie a proper GP is from a dyed Golden Pheasant Skin. Usually you don't get much from a skin but enough to tie many GP's. When you select your feathers for the GP you are looking for the straightest and flatest feather on the skin. I usually stack three feathers on top of each other, times, tied in twice, one a third of the way up from the bend and the other at the eye of the hook. You want both sets of feathers to have their tips come together at the end. Hope this all makes sense!!

[phearless]

You can use the rump feathers. Some of the flank feathers are also very good.
Don't overlook Hen Backs either. Fairly inexpensive and tons of feathers.
You can use any feather you like. There are many variations now.

Check out FishFinders GP's in the gallery.

Whitings has some kick butt hen feathers that are dyed hot steely colours but are black all around the outside. They look awsome!

Remember..
No Rules.
( unless you want to tie an original )

[bc_speys]

I tie almost all my GP's with golden pheasant flank. I have tied many dozens with hen saddle years ago for shops, some claim that they swim better. the rump feathers are really good for smaller flies and Art Lingren sometimes dresses his Indespensible (black GP) with marabou for the wing, as Phearless says, show me the rule book!

Cliff.

[RustyBomber]

A great investment for me has been white cock pheasant skins. I have one dyed black and another purple. These a large skins with a variety of feathers even suitable for spey hackle. The feathers are excellent for GPs (big and small). I like them much more than golden pheasnt and you really get your moneys worth. I have tied dozens of flies and have so many feathers left on the skin still. These skins were distributed by Hareline Dubbin.