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Troutline Mallard Breast Feathers -2grams

SKU: Troutline Mallard Breast Feathers -2grams Manufacturer: Troutline

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€1.55
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Mallard breast feathers are a traditional and versatile material in fly tying, valued for their natural mottling, soft texture, and subtle sheen. They are typically grayish with a barred or speckled pattern and are taken from the breast area of wild or farmed mallard ducks.

Feathers details:

  • Soft but with some structure: Easy to manipulate for wings and collars.
  • Naturally barred/mottled appearance: Imitates insect wings or legs well.
  • Good movement in the water: Due to fine barbs and slight translucency.
  • Natural gray-brown shades: Often no need to dye them.
  • Packing: 2 grams/pack

If you’re tying traditional wet flies or want a natural, soft-wing look, mallard breast feathers are excellent. They're not as trendy as CDC or synthetics today, but in classic patterns and for movement in water, they remain a valuable and authentic material.

Use CaseFunction in FlyPopularityNotes
Classic Wet FliesWingsHigh (Traditional)Iconic in Mallard & Claret
Soft HacklesHackle/collarModerateAdds movement and natural look
North Country SpidersWing/Leg substituteModerateAuthentic material
NymphsLegs/wing casesLow to ModerateMore common in classic UK tying
Dry FliesWing (some sedges)LowMostly replaced by synthetics or CDC

Common Fly Patterns Using Mallard Breast Feathers:

1. Wet Flies (Classic and Modern)

  • Use: As wings or collars.

  • Examples:

    • Mallard & Claret (wing made entirely from paired mallard breast feathers)

    • March Brown (mallard for wings)

    • Various traditional soft hackles and spider patterns.

2. North Country Spiders

  • Use: Wing substitute or soft hackle.

  • Mallard is a common material for these minimalist, impressionistic patterns.

3. Nymphs

  • Use: Legs or wing cases.

  • Particularly in older UK patterns, mallard feathers are split and tied as legs.

4. Dry Flies (Occasional Use)

  • Not as common, but used in traditional patterns for wings, e.g.:

    • Greenwell’s Glory (occasionally substitutes with mallard)

    • Some small sedge or midge dry flies.

5. Emergers and CDC-style Patterns

  • Used sparingly as a wing material when a mottled or natural look is desired.

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