I’ve told you many times how fly tiers are a bestial lot lacking moral fiber and entirely untrustworthy when it comes to brightly colored wildlife …

… all wildlife really … they’re hell on the drab stuff too.

A couple of weeks ago Moldy Chum posted about a rare collection of birds pelts lifted from a museum in England – how fly tiers were being “hobby-profiled” and cavity searched as part of the investigation.

At some point all fly tiers work up the nerve to attempt the full dress Atlantic Salmon featherwing as it’s both work of art and testament to the craftsman. Like Everest it’s there – and that’s enough to draw the bold, the feeble minded, and those that thrive under impossible circumstance.

The genre is utterly brutal; starting with feathers and furs that have been banned for 50 years, and ending in a crescendo of references to out of print books, hooks you have to make yourself and a “trail of tears” with no apparent end.

Accumulating the materials is impossible without risking significant jail time. Those that have them are close lipped, those that don’t rely on dyed imitations of a feather they’ve never seen or felt – unsure if it’s even a good imitation.

Those addicted to the craft will endure any agony and pay any price for the original materials.

Many years ago I did my best to scrape together what I could when some of it was still legal. Despite my best attempts at cloak and dagger 90% of what I needed was only available in dimly lit alcoves – sold by smelly old guys wearing trench coats…

Doing a little research recently I stumbled upon Ken Sawada’s storefront where some of these feathers are sold legally. Before you run out and drop $72 for four Indian Crow feathers (which makes two flies) remember it’s not legal to import them into this country – despite their availability in Japan.

The prices are unreal and make fancy fly rods and engraved fly reels pale in comparison. For the fly tiers so afflicted here’s a chance to see what the originals look like. I would save the pictures for reference material.

Speckled Bustard anyone? The shoulders are only $839 for the pair. Cheap.

Keep in mind that Condor substitute – not the real stuff, is $61 per feather.

By now the non-fly tier’s are thinking we need detox or an intervention – 8 weeks mingling with D-list celebrities in some Malibu halfway house. But rather than condemn us to a fiery hell for our avarice and desire to own rare species, remember that Elk Hair Caddis still cannot tie themselves. You still need us.

I’m sure the decline in the US dollar has aggravated prices just a wee bit. The fly rods are cheaper than ours, but the Ken Sawada hooks are $35 for 25 in the trout sizes. Adam’s are $3.93 each.

It’s an interesting browse just the same. A glimpse at feathers you may never see again – and little wonder that fly dressers in the UK (or abroad) might be fencing Blue Chatterer to the tune of a tidy profit.

Tags: Blue Chatterer, Speckled Bustard, Indian Crow, Full Dress Atlantic Salmon flies, stolen museum birds, fly tying, condor, vulturine Guinea fowl, Ken Sawada