Those of your who are keen on tying your own flies for  Euronymphing techniques will no doubt know about the mythical qualities of Coq De Leon feathers. They are the quintessential tailing feather for Perdigons and similar fly patterns, but are equally sought after as dry fly tailing feathers too. The stiffness is just right to enable a very fine tail without the need to bulk up the fibers, so very little is needed on each fly.

The Coq de Leon are the oldest line of birds bred for their feathers. The feathers are stiff, beautiful and long with speckled markings and have a unique glossy sheen. Mainly used for trout fly tying, these feathers are prized by fly tyers all over the world. Saddle feathers are plucked from the rooster Gallos de Leon bird in limited numbers each season to allow for continual regrowth, without the bird being killed.

What makes the true ‘Gallos de Leon’ feathers so special? It has to be their exceptionally long stiff barbs that glisten and quiver with life. The sheen and shimmer of these feathers add a very special quality to your flies at the vice and a magical semi-translucency in the water. Just move them about under a light and you’ll see what we’re talking about!

These are supplied as extra select hand, matched feathers that are useful for fly tying as tails and hackles and are especially useful for hand crafted, hand made artistic feather jewelry including earrings, headbands, feather chokers, and feather masks. Yes, occasionally we have to allow jewellery makers to get their hands on our prized fly tying feathers too.

The good news is, though, there’s plenty to go around. In the past week, we have finally had a big shipment of select Gallo de Leon and Coq de Leon feathers arrive for all your dry fly and nymph tailing needs.

We now have good stock levels of CDL in a range of colours and grades to suit your tying needs, with more stock inbound in the coming weeks. Just in time for tying sesaon!

You can find all these feathers by clicking the link to go to the Coq De Leon category in the Troutlore Fly Tying Store.  If you can’t find a product you are specifically looking for, get in touch and we will see if it can be sourced, and kept in stock. Plus, you can keep up to date with new releases through our newsletter and social media outlets.