What do you do with small duck flank feathers?

[Shoemoo]

I was going through my stuff and found a couple of packages of mallard flank. I didn't like how every time I opened the package a ton of fuzz would fly out, so I separated out all the feathers and trimmed the fuzz. Ended up with around 20 or so feathers under 2" long with barbs too short to go on the size 4 and 6 hooks I usually tie. Anything I can do with them or are they just waste?

The fuzz looks like it will make really nice dubbing, though.

 

[redear]

use them on 1/64 or 1/80 jigs with a pink head and black eye dot. look at the grizzly jig site and find the bills water flea pattern. this thing can be killer on bluegills, I use a crappie nibble on the hook or a half of a nibble depending on what they want, a waxworm or tiny peice of earthworm works too.

 

[redman]

Stacy great minds work alike. Had two packs each of chartreuse And flo. pink that I did that to the other day. I took the very small ones and tie a few Flash Ducks and used the small feathers as hackle collar. The longer of the small fiber 's I plan on using as accent on other patterns that I tie. You know the old saying waste not want not. Sometimes I think I take it to a whole new level.

Redman

P.S. with the fuzzy down we aught to be able to make us a pair of down filled ear muffs. Now those would keep you ears warm. RM

 

[Fatman]

I'm with the others trim em and save the fuzz and mix it all up. Tie really small and high light's on other jigs, small collars if wrapped wet fly style. I use my small ones on size #10 jig hooks. I'm looking at making one of the dubbing brush blocks which would make it more chenille like for jigs. Just think of the mix's you could make!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[quivira kid]

Highlights in tails, flies, and TRASH on the really small stuff. You can get a bag for $1.75-2? Go buy more useful stuff and throw the junk away.

 

[StumpHunter]

I like to empty the bags and get all the fluff out also. Most of the feathers I can find use for but I don't spend a lot of time with the bags, as said they are cheap.

 

[quivira kid]

OR...... make small jigs!

 

[JUNGLEJIM1]

I pitch the fuzz and keep the small feathers tying them down to a #12 hook. Unfortunately,the small feathers always seem to out number the larger feathers by a big margin.