Flyfishing the Sierras

Hackle Stacker

spacer Hackle Stacker, PMD
Hackle Stacker, PMD
Tying Instructions
Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 100 #16-20
  • Thread: Primrose 8/0
  • Hackle: Ginger Hackle
  • Abdomen: Pale Yellow Dubbing
  • Thorax: PMD Superfine
  • Tail: Light Dun Microfibbetts

Notes: The Hackle Stacker is a mayfly emerger pattern. It utilizes a paraloop method of wrapping hackles around a looped monofilament and bringing the monofilament over a dubbed thorax to a tie-off location just behind the eye. The result is a group of hackles residing upon the top of the thorax keeping the hackles well above the hook shank. This allows the fly to submerge itself well into the surface film and results in better hook-ups due to the hook placement being lower in the water. Bob Quigley is often cited as the developer of this fly although the technique can also be attributed to Jim Cramer and the late Ned Long, who used it as well. Often, many will fish this pattern behind a hi-vis dun using the dun as an indicator.

Bob markets his flies through Idylwilde Flies. His choice of materials for tailing is often some fibers of z-lon or microfibbetts. The body can be Superfine dubbing, Turkey Biots, or Dyed Quill. Bob developed a few variations from this pattern. One is the Hackle Stacker Flag Dun which incorporates a section of z-lon for the wing. This can be very helpfull in sighting the fly. Another variation is his Sparkle Stacker, which uses floss for the body and z-lon as tailing material. The Loopy Cripple Stacker is another variation as well. An excellent tutorial is on Harry Mason's site: Hackle Stacker

Variations:

Hackle Stacker-Callibaetis
Hackle Stacker- Callibaetis
Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 100 #14-16
  • Thread: Gray 8/0
  • Hackle: Grizzly Hackle
  • Abdomen: Gray Turkey Biot
  • Thorax: Callibaetis Superfine
  • Tail: Grizzly Hackle Fibers
Hackle Stacker-BWO
Hackle Stacker- BWO
Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 100 #16-20
  • Thread: Olive 8/0
  • Hackle: Med. Blue Dun Hackle
  • Abdomen: BWO Superfine Dubbing
  • Thorax: BWO Superfine Dubbing
  • Tail: Light Dun Microfibbetts
Hackle Stacker-Female Baetis
Hackle Stacker- BWO
Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 100 #16-20
  • Thread: Olive 8/0
  • Hackle: Dark Blue Dun Hackle
  • Egg Sac: Black Superfine
  • Abdomen: Olive Dyed Quill
  • Thorax: BWO Superfine Dubbing
  • Tail: Light Dun Microfibbetts
Hackle Stacker Flag Dun-PMD
Hackle Stacker- BWO
Materials:
  • Hook: TMC 100 #16-20
  • Thread: Primrose 8/0
  • Hackle: Ginger Hackle
  • Abdomen: Turkey Biot, PMD
  • Thorax: PMD Superfine
  • Tail: Dark Dun Microfibbetts
  • Wing: Ginger Z-lon
©2007 Steve Schalla
This page is not to be copied without my explicit permission.

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