Cree hackle is a highly prized and rare material among fly tiers. It’s a unique variation of grizzly hackle distinguished by the presence of ginger tones within its black and white bars. This specific coloration, occurring in only about one in a thousand birds, significantly increases its value. Cree hackle displays a spectrum of shades, ranging from pale to dark, with cream, light ginger, medium ginger, or dark ginger tones intermingling between the bars. Like grizzly hackle, its barring pattern is inconsistent, and the added ginger hue amplifies this variability. The distribution of color varies greatly; the ginger can be thinly spaced, or it can be the predominant hue. This ginger coloring can also transition from cream to a reddish shade. The “Classic Cree,” recognized by a chevron ginger pattern, is considered an especially exceptional and rare find.