Hackle for bombers

[WylieSchroederHaggerty]

I have attempted to tie two deer hair bombers and had a few questions regarding hackle. Do people find that it is harder to find hackle appropriate for bombers these days? I have heard that the genetic altering of the birds has slimmed down the hackle, making hackle more narrow and better suited for trout size flys.

Do others with experience tying bombers agree? Would their be something at OOFS that could be a good substitue? I was told by one tier here in NJ that he uses Schlappin. Talked to another tier who said schlappin is too webby.

Would love to get some insight as to alternatives.

Also would one use different hackle when tying a buck bug seeing that it is a subsurface style bomber.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[Nick Pionessa]

in my experience from commercial tying of the atlantic salmon version you want as stiff of hackle as possible for both bugs and bombers. for both it has more to do with the vibration caused by the stiff hackle than anything. the green machines in particular were required to have very stiff hackle wound through tight, close trimmed (height of the up eye) deer hair to get as much sonics going from them as possible. the hackle i found most suitable was the bottom of good dry fly necks and whiting in particular for the length as well. brown was the most common and fortunately readily available, im sure you already have some of that. also keeping the hackle at just 1 and 1/2 times the hook gap was important. these were parameters enforced by Hunters Angling when i tied for them and it was insisted upon. the sample i was given to copy was tied by Warren Duncan. not having fished them myself i figured that was good enough for me and just did what i was told. those same flies have caught me several steelhead here so i can't argue.

traditional GM with whiting natural brown hackle #10