Sept. 2013 "WFI On The Fly" Sept. 2013 “WFI ON THE FLY” INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Seems we are all shocked when au- when he brought five students who Saddle Up with Dr. Tom: Pages “Poultry Gene Pool—A 2-7 tumn arrives and the summer fishing had the assignment to research and Glimpse Inside the Coop“ season is nearly over; yet this issue make recommendations for the Whit- of the WFI is full of good ideas for ing distribution in Europe. See more Dealer News: Anglers All 8-9 using the High & Dry Hackle to get about Martin in the “High & Dry Chal- lenge” article. Colette’s Coop: News 10 ready for next summer, and just in from the Office time for the winter tying season! Have a splendid autumn season. Pro Team sCOOP”: by 11-12 Pat/Carol Oglesby Tom Mullen, our USA Sales Coordina- Dr. Thomas S. Whiting and tor, has written an article on using the Whiting Team Featured Pro Teamer: 13-17 the High & Dry Rooster Cape materi- Bob Jacklin al and included some of his favorite As a side note from “the team”, when fly patterns, including the Poor you get this newsletter, grab a bever- Product Feature: 18-21 High & Dry Capes Witch, created by Jim Poor, founder age, take a break from your busy day, by Tom Mullen of Anglers All Fly Shop in Littleton, curl up in a comfy chair and enjoy Dr. CO—this month’s featured dealer. Tom’s article on genetics. Don’t be in High & Dry Challenge: 22-23 You will also find a great ant pattern a hurry, you’ll want to spend some Martin Westbeek using H&D from Martin Westbeek of time digesting the information. It’s a 24 Holland. We were proud to have terrific read and an article you’ll want High & Dry: WHY? Martin at Whiting Farms in 2005 to save for future reference! Humor: (Fish ‘n Chicks) 25 Whiting Farms, Inc. Whiting Farms Mission Statement: To produce the highest quality, value and selec- 5796 Sawmill Mesa Road P.O. Box 100 tion of feathers for the fly tiers of the world. Delta, CO 81416 Whiting Farms Pro Team Mission Statement: USA To be the ambassadors of the WFI products to the fly tying community. Track us on the Web: Contact us at [email protected] www.whitingfarms.com 1 - 9 7 0 - 874- 0999 "WFI On The Fly" Page 2 SADDLE UP WITH DR. TOM “POULTRY GENE POOL —A GLIMPSE INSIDE THE COOP” matic change. All in all, being in the "feather business" is a clas- sic niche enterprise, with the incumbent high risk/reward aspects. It is also a long-term endeavor due to a rather severe initial learning curve develop- ing the needed facilities and husbandry to produce quality, undamaged feathers to sell. So these are the overriding con- cepts I want to convey – that feathers are hardly a "get-rich- quick" business – and that you better love it if you want to get into it, because it is definitely a project for the long haul. Dr. Tom Whiting in his corporate attire, shows two roosters. The bird on the right has one extra gene All these warnings having been resulting in a rooster with “hen” feathers. The rooster said, the feather business can be on the left has genes that result in no comb nor wattle. a very rewarding pursuit. Fish- Photo by Pat Oglesby ing fly tiers take their feathers surprisingly seriously, even passionately, and are very will- This article was originally ing to pay considerable money written and presented as part The breeding of chickens specifi- for the pelts. Most of our prod- cally for their feathers is a very, of a genetics roundtable dis- ucts at Whiting Farms sell from very small niche industry, barely cussion. It has been edited $12 to $65 per pelt at retail, even known about by the regular with two pelts coming from and included in the WFI food poultry industry or by the each rooster. We even sell a newsletter as a point of inter- primary poultry breeders. The few "collector" capes – called est to Whiting’s dealers, dis- total world market for genetically "Ultra Platinums," which are tributors and Pro Team mem- bred fishing fly-tying feathers may probably never even tied with – bers for use in deepening your only be around $5 million per for $150 apiece, which are al- understanding of the produc- year, and thus supports but a few ways on backorder. So it can be small businesses. This minor tion of feathers and to better lucrative if all aspects of the en- market is also at the mercy of a communicate with your cus- terprise are clicking: genetics, number of impinging factors, such husbandry, facilities, processing tomers and constituents in as currency exchange rates, trout and marketing. the fly-tying industry when "whirling" disease and other they have questions about the aquatic nuisances, export impedi- In regard to genetics of the origin, importance and exclu- ments due to disease concerns feather business, "dry fly" hack- sivity of the Whiting product (i.e., avian influenza, exotic new- le is the most complex and im- castle), regional droughts which lines. portant. affect fishing, and even global cli- "WFI On The Fly" Page 3 SADDLE UP WITH DR. TOM, CONT. Dry fly hackle are rooster feath- years of its existence, but the fishing, which spawned a nearly two most significant individu- ers that, when wrapped around equal interest in fly tying. In the a fishing hook, splay out into a als were Harry Darbee from 1960's Henry was tying flies com- New York State and Andy dense hackle "collar," which mercially and he was frustrated when cast onto water causes Miner, Jr. of Minnesota. Both with the inability to even get usa- were serious fly tiers, Darbee the fishing fly to stand atop the ble "grizzly" feathers, grizzly being water – thus a "dry fly." Dry fly commercially and Miner as a a black and white barred pattern hobbyist, who endeavored to hackle are the feathers from the that is an essential in fly tying. So head and neck of a rooster, usu- breed roosters that had de- Henry found a trio, initially, of cent dry fly hackle. Darbee ally referred to as the "cape," Barred Plymouth Rock Bantams, and sometimes the back feath- was active in the 1940's, 50's which had fairly decent neck and and 60's, and provided Miner ers, called either the "saddle" or saddle feathers. He started a rudi- "saddle hackle." Commercial with his foundation stock in mentary breeding program with the 1960's. But both individ- type roosters, show breeds, or these, adding a few more barred "barn yard" fowl have hackle uals incorporated chickens individuals and incorporating the from a myriad of other hobby feathers too, of course. But, as two other essential hackle colors – any fly tier will tell you, their breeders, show poultry white and brown, using "show" breeds and even fighting feathers don't begin to have the poultry stocks and breeds. Few if characteristics that can tie a de- cocks in pursuit of their be- any records were kept of what loved hackle. Andy Miner, by cent fly nor float a hook on the was done, but in long conversa- water. It is only through pains- profession an attorney, be- tions with him I have concluded came the "Johnny Appleseed" taking, long-term selection for the whole gene pool of the the host of characteristics that of the hackle world, giving "Hoffman Hackle" line goes back chickens and eggs to whom- will accomplish these functions to between 6 and 12 individuals! that roosters will grow good dry ever requested them, for the What made Henry's feathers supe- love of fly-fishing and fly ty- fly hackle. And this is referred rior to all others was that he was to as "genetic" hackle. ing. And he never sold a sin- himself using the feathers to tie gle pelt, instead gave them flies commercially, and he always away, only asking for fishing The genetic lines that are used selected sires which provided to produce dry fly hackle – flies in return. The extant hackle that "turned" on the hook hackle producers in business which are the most demanding ideally, and not with problems fly tying feathers to produce now (Metz, Keough, Collins) such as twisting, fracturing, etc. founded their production and command the highest pric- And this "tying performance" cri- es – only have a few origins. with "Miner" stock. I also ac- terion made the Hoffman Hackle quired one branch of the Min- appreciated and coveted. The per- er stock, which I named the Whiting Farms was founded formance selection strategy has upon the exclusive purchase of "Hebert/Miner" product line, been considerably expanded and to delineate that its origin the "Hoffman Hackle" line from used in all lines at Whiting Farms. Henry Hoffman in 1989. Hen- was from Andy Miner through Ted Hebert of Michigan, who ry's parents had a small meat The other major genetic line in the chicken breeding enterprise in arguably received the best of dry fly field had a far more diverse the Miner stock and/or did California and so Henry grew up origin and development, and has learning the basics of poultry the best job with them. The been more widely dispersed. sole surviving son of Andy selection and husbandry. But Many stocks and breeders have Henry's great passion was fly- Miner contacted me and ex- contributed to it over the 70 or 80 pressed his appreciation that Page 4 "WFI On The Fly" SADDLE UP WITH DR.