Schlappen

Veniard Schlappen Feathers provide long, soft and highly mobile fibres for larger flies and streamers. Schlappen comes from the lower saddle area of the rooster and has a much softer structure than conventional dry fly hackle. Therefore, the fibres move freely in the water instead of remaining stiff.

The feathers feature long, webby fibres that create excellent movement and volume. This makes Schlappen particularly useful when tying flies that need a strong profile in moving water. However, the soft fibres still collapse during the cast. As a result, you can create substantial-looking flies without adding unnecessary stiffness.

Schlappen works exceptionally well as a collar or hackle on salmon and steelhead flies. Simply wind the feather around the hook or tube to create a flowing collar. The long fibres then pulse and move as the current works through the fly. Consequently, even a relatively simple pattern can produce plenty of movement.

Predator fly tyers can use Schlappen to add bulk and movement to pike, perch and saltwater patterns. It also works well alongside bucktail, flash and synthetic fibres. Meanwhile, the feather stem allows tyers to palmer Schlappen through larger streamer bodies. This creates movement throughout the entire fly rather than concentrating it around the head.

The softer fibres also make excellent tails, throats and wings. You can strip individual fibres from the stem for smaller applications or use the complete feather for larger patterns. Therefore, a pack of Schlappen provides several different tying options.

Veniard offers Schlappen in a wide selection of colours. This makes it easy to match traditional salmon patterns or create modern predator combinations. Whether you need flowing movement on a salmon tube or extra life in a large pike streamer, Veniard Schlappen remains one of the most useful natural feathers for tying mobile flies.

Performance

Schlappen creates movement through its long, soft and webby fibres. The fibres breathe and pulse in moving water while retaining enough volume to maintain the fly's profile. Furthermore, they combine particularly well with bucktail and synthetic materials when building larger streamer patterns.

Who Is It For?

Veniard Schlappen suits salmon, sea trout, pike, predator and saltwater fly tyers. It is especially useful for anglers tying larger flies that require flowing movement. Beginners will also find it easy to work with for collars, tails and straightforward palmered bodies.