hackle fly

noun

, Angling.

1. an artificial fly made with hackles, usually without wings.

hackle fly

noun

1. angling an artificial fly in which the legs and wings are represented by hackle feathers

Word History and Origins

Origin of hackle fly¹

First recorded in 1670–80

Example Sentences

I do not think that the hackle fly is a really good imitation of the natural insect, and it is quite possible to put the wings of the imitation in the same position as those of the natural fly.

From Project Gutenberg

Q.—When a fly is to be made in the above way without wings, called a hackle fly, how is it done?

From Project Gutenberg

The flies to suit the river Coln, are—the brown Caperer, large cinnamon fly, brown-red palmer, and Orl fly with a dun hackle and yellow body, the stone fly, March brown, brown grouse hackle, wren-tail fly, large red ant, black gnat, and dun drake, a red hackle fly made full with the red and grey tail feather of the partridge mixed, bronze peacock harl body.

From Project Gutenberg

The log ran out, at a slight inclination upward, from the center of the heap of driftwood, and its free end, where the hackle fly reposed at a distance of fully twenty feet from the bank, was suspended barely two feet above 63 the middle of the pool.

From Project Gutenberg

And then, at the first cast she made into a still, deep pool, where the night loitered under the very eye of day, an imprudent trout took the gray hackle fly, and made off with it.

From Project Gutenberg