Deer body hair and the hairs from the very top of a buck tail are hollow, very buoyant, and make an awesome medium for bass, trout, and pike flies. The ability to splay and spin these hairs means a vast array of streamers and surface flies. Spinning deer hair flies is probably one of the most artistic forms of fly tying there is. Some people tie flies that look like taxidermied bluegills or mummichogs. I'm not nearly that good, so I'll stick to my impressionistic fish catching patterns.
Sweet looking ties RM. Stacking and spinning hair bugs is a lot of fun - and has some pretty stout challenges. If you get a chance to purchase one of Pat Cohen's packing tools do it. It's so much larger than the versions used on most trout sized (traditional sized) flies, but wow, that size is a huge help with packing things super tight. I'm not going to say it makes my hair bugs "better" from a looks perspective, but it makes them so tightly packed they are hard to sink. Definitely a tool worth the investment.
I LOVE that diver you tied - the grizzle and olive color combo is sweet. Sort or makes me think of Armand Courchane's "snake fly" only smaller. It's awesome!
Rowan - I don't know how you trim/shape your deer hair bodies and heads but I find that bending a double edged razor blade from the ends really helps. It provides a curved blade that makes nice heads but you've got to be careful handling a blade this way!
Sweet looking ties RM. Stacking and spinning hair bugs is a lot of fun - and has some pretty stout challenges. If you get a chance to purchase one of Pat Cohen's packing tools do it. It's so much larger than the versions used on most trout sized (traditional sized) flies, but wow, that size is a huge help with packing things super tight. I'm not going to say it makes my hair bugs "better" from a looks perspective, but it makes them so tightly packed they are hard to sink. Definitely a tool worth the investment.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that diver you tied - the grizzle and olive color combo is sweet. Sort or makes me think of Armand Courchane's "snake fly" only smaller. It's awesome!
Thanks,
DeleteMy packing seems to depend on the day. These ones were kinda loose, but sometimes I can whip out a bunch that are as tight as cork!
They look great. Recycling road kill can make some great ties. Looking forward to the takes on those flies.
ReplyDeleteTie, fish, write and photo on...
Thank you,
DeleteNone of these used the wild kind, but I always save a squirrel tail when I see one ;)
Rowan - I don't know how you trim/shape your deer hair bodies and heads but I find that bending a double edged razor blade from the ends really helps. It provides a curved blade that makes nice heads but you've got to be careful handling a blade this way!
ReplyDeleteI've used that before, love it for simple muddler head or pencil poppers.
DeleteI've never been "brave" enough to try spinning hair. I think those would catch some fish though.
ReplyDeleteThey should fish well enough... it isn"t too hard, just use super thick thread.
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