McKay's Hackle

McKay's Hackle was grown by Bob McKay, a fly shop owner in Jeffersonville. The bloodline of his hackle comes mainly from Harry Darbee's stock, along with a few other choice birds he found over the years. At his peak Bob had over 100 roosters, that supplied his fly tying needs. These are wonderful necks and saddles with a great shine that is lost most modern growers. The feathers are not as long as we are used to, the sizes run larger, the tips are more rounded, and the barbs are thin and fairly stiff. These are great pieces of Catskill history, deserving a place on a hook that at the end of a line.