What's the deal with jungle cock feathers?

[captain-ahab]

I was looking at some patterns and saw the "cheek" uses a jungle cock feather, I looked up the feathers and a site mentioned the use of artificial ones instead of real ones because of the controversy. Is this from a rare bird or something? I googled jungle cock but the images were of either the saddles or illustrations of what looked like a fancy rooster. Should i buy the real stuff or no?

[The Fisherman]

Jungle cock are legally farm raised in the UK. The capes are pricey at retail, but if you're going to fish the flies you tie with them, you don't need to use A or even B grade. You can also get them on ebay.

Split JC nails (the "eyes") can be repaired with Flexament or similar product.

The artificial eyes are not, IMHO, a good substitute.

This has been my experience: I've tied up a bunch of the same pattern with JC eyes and some without. I like the way the flies look with the JC eyes, and will continue to tie some flies using them. Flies in the same pattern with JC eyes have not caught more fish that those without.

YMMV.

[Todd K]

Its really up to you. They can be expensive depending on the grade. I picked up one on ebay for $30 to $40 dollars which isn't bad. The grade is decent. You can pay over $100.00 for a top end grade. Unless you are going to tie professionally don't bother with that.

[pork]

If you're in the market for some JC, check out Castle Arms in Springfield. They have their own supply of birds that are harvested around this time every year. He usually has capes of every grade, plus you can visually inspect them prior to purchase. Castle Arms is a fascinating place, definitely worth the trip (though it's open by appointment only). I might head up there to buy some better JC soon, as mine is in pretty rough shape.

[captain-ahab]

Yeah, I looked them up when i found a pattern for the Hornberg i was trying to copy from BRK, but yeah, the price of the one i found was a whopping $270!

I think that even though it may not catch more fish, it really adds a beautiful look to some of those salmon flies.

I'll check out ebay

Thanks

[pork]

Huh? On their website it says the price runs from $60-$175...:confused:


Maybe the superior grade capes are $270 :confused::confused:

Check this out...I found this the other day...I need to give this a try on my ragged JC nails...

REPAIR FOR JUNGLE COCK SPLITS
by John Pike

MATERIALS NEEDED: 3M Paper First Aid Tape 1/2in x 180in

Hospital name: MICROPORE

SALLY HANSEN "No Chip" acrylic top coat nail polish (orange bottle cap).

1. Pull the loose feather fibers back and away from the "eye".

2. Hold the split eye fibers together, with one hand, and gently tape them in place from the back side of the feather. Do this with a small (1/16" wide) piece of tape.

3. Now tape the upper portion of the feather in the same manner.

4. Place the eye, best side up, on a sheet of plain paper and paint the split portion with the clear nail polish. Gently blot off any excess polish and set aside to dry.

5. When dry, remove all tape. Smooth feather fibers in place between dampened finger tips. Form damp feather over a large soda straw, set aside to dry (this reforms the natural curve in the feather.)

This method places a coat of hard lacquer over the entire surface of the feather without distortion and allows the feather to dry flat. The old method of drawing the eye through a little cement on the tips of your fingers wiped off most of the polish and did not hold the feather fibers together.

[Todd K]

For a simple solution:

If the eye is split I take a needle with a little head cement and run it into the split. Then hold hold the eye between 2 fingers and pull away to close the gap. let it dry.

Take an orange/yellow prisma color marker and go over the eye.

[BRK TRT]

For patterns that call for JC there is no substiute. But if these flies are for fishing as opposed to framing the lesser grade capes will work fine with some repair, which is simple as posted before.

[BRK TRT]

This is another variation of the Hornberg, tied with Jungle Cock, and mixed grizzly and brown hackle.

The JC nail came from a cheap grade of JC and was repaired with Cellere and will fish just fine.


http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p235/brookie47/DSCN3813.jpg

[DA]

If you don't want to go for a whole cape, sometimes you can buy a pack of loose jungle cock feathers(nails) on ebay. Most of them sell for about $10 for a 10 pack. I found a seller a few months ago who sold 30 packs with an assortment of small medium and large nails for $10.78 inc s&h.