Wet FlybeginnerPacific Northwest
Soft Hackle
$3.95
Available Sizes#10 - #18
Color Variations
Pheasant TailHare's EarOliveYellowStarling/Purple
The Soft Hackle is the oldest trick in fly fishing, dating to the north of England centuries before anyone thought to call it 'fly fishing.' A sparse body, a single turn of soft partridge or hen hackle, and the current does the rest. The hackle fibers pulse and breathe with each micro-variation in flow, creating the impression of legs, wings, or movement that suggests life without specifying exactly what kind. It is a pattern that relies on impressionism rather than realism, and the trout have been approving of this artistic choice for five hundred years. In PNW rivers, swung through riffles and pocket water, it catches everything from cutthroat to steelhead.
Quick Facts
TypeWet Fly
Difficultybeginner
SeasonsSpring, Summer, Fall
Target SpeciesRainbow Trout, Sea-Run Cutthroat, Steelhead
Sizes#10 - #18
Best LocationsYakima River, WA; Deschutes River, OR; Klickitat River, WA
Where to Fish It
Yakima River
WA · Freestone River
Deschutes River
OR · Freestone River
Klickitat River
WA · Freestone River
Map unavailable. Locations for Soft Hackle: Yakima River, WA; Deschutes River, OR; Klickitat River, WA
Related Reading
seasonal playbook
The Spring Playbook: First Hatches to Full Send
Spring is the most dynamic season in fly fishing — water temperatures swing daily, hatches emerge in waves, and fish that have been dormant for months begin feeding with increasing urgency. This is your region-by-region playbook for fishing the awakening.
species science
How Trout See Your Fly: The Science of Color and Light
Trout don't see the world the way we do. They perceive ultraviolet light, detect motion through contrast rather than color, and see a dramatically different fly at ten feet of depth than at two. Once you understand their four-cone visual system, you'll never choose a fly the same way again.
hatch guide
Caddis: The Underrated Hatch
Caddisflies outnumber mayflies on most trout streams, yet they receive a fraction of the attention. From the explosive Mother's Day caddis hatch to the giant October caddis of the Pacific Northwest, understanding Trichoptera transforms your fishing from spring through fall.
hatch guide
Emerger Patterns: Fishing the In-Between
Trout eat more insects during emergence than at any other stage. Emerger patterns — flies that imitate the critical moment when a nymph transforms into an adult in the surface film — are the most consistently effective dry flies in fly fishing. Here is the science and the technique behind fishing the in-between.
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