Orange & Gray Chukar

[gingerdun]

Thanks, everyone, for the comments. More I look at the fly, the more I wish I'd put a short tail on it. And maybe go up a notch on the wire gauge. And maybe slightly sparser with the hackle. Next time.
The chukar is not used much, and has very few hits when I do a search on the forum. I guess it is not so easy to come by, or doesn't have enough usable feathers on a skin to make it profitable. But it sure is pretty. And because of the blunt feather shape, the hackle barbs are of uneven length when wrapped on the hook, which feels natural to my eye.

Lance

[Old Hat]

Chukar is a little more difficult to get than some of the others but not difficult. I find a lot of the feathers to be too big for most of my trout tying but I like to use them on steelhead patterns. A lot of the feathers tend to be a bit springy to me as well, not as free flowing or soft as some of the other game birds. I would describe them as similar to pheasant in form.

I really like the combination in the abdomen Lance. That color works very well with the hackle and is naturally buggy looking.

[gingerdun]

Carl, all that you say about chukar sounds right. That would explain why they are not more popular.

[hankaye]

gingerdun, Howdy;

Should you;
"More I look at the fly, the more I wish I'd put a short tail on it. And maybe go up a
notch on the wire gauge. And maybe slightly sparser with the hackle. Next time."
Then you will be creating a different fly entirely, ... wouldn't you???
I think it looks just Grand as is. Would like to see the varient as well ....

hank