dying feathers

[jigs]

I have been looking into this for a bit and have found alot of ways to dye feathers but i was wondering if any of you have actualy tried this. Also i am wondering if you need to bleach your feathers before you dye them or if you can dye grey feathers such as down from a canada goose. or a pheasant tail.
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[Dryrod]

[#008100]Hi jigs - I have never really tried dyeing my feathers but it would make sense that one would have to bleach them first in order to get the color desired.[/#008100]
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[Scruffy_Fly]

I have never bothered to try to die materials.

The Beatty's have experience at dying materials. You might try sending them an email and you might be able to get a responced from them.

Here is their page of tips and tricks for dying:

[url "http://www.btsflyfishing.com/Tips_Tricks/TT.htm#dying"]http://www.btsflyfishing.com/Tips_Tricks/TT.htm#dying[/url]
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[jigs]

thanks scruffy that explains how to bleach it. I had found plenty of ways to dye but none how to lighten it. I dont figure it will save anything to dye my own but its something i would like to try. I think it will probly have to wait for duck season next fall when i have some good down. I think i will try marabou or a rooster feather maybe.
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[flygoddess]

Jigs, good luck on the dying and hope it all works. As far as saving any money dying......I don't know. I tie a fly that requires BLUE biot. Guess what, there is no such thing in the USA.
I found a gentlemen on another forum that chemically dies feathers and I got the most beautiful BIOT from him, so you get it down and people will come to you!!!![cool]
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[jigs]

from what i have read it doesnt look to be very difficult to actualy dye them but to get the desired color is probly a diffrent story. I get a sense of acomplishment out of that kind of stuff. like putting on your special fly when no one else is catching fish and knocking them dead. Pluss it will give me something to do on a rainy or snowy day when I cant get out to fish.


Also does anyone know what kind of birds give the best feathers? I have heard wood ducks give great feathers but we dont have many here. I shot my first last winter and he is getting mounted so cant take his.
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