Fly Tying hair, fur, & tails

                                 
                  Calf                                     Caribou                                    Deer


                                 
                 Elk                                         Moose                                    Rabbit



                                 
                Ram                                      Squirrel                                    Yak

It’s February and that means prime time for Summer trout season … in Patagonia. The days are long and productive – precisely why you made the trip to southern Argentina. Now you’re making every smooth cast count and reaping the benefits. Caddis and Mayflies are hatching like clockwork. This is dry fly country and as you feel the punchy take of another thickly writhing Patagonian brown, a smile as wide as the South American sky spreads across your face. You throw another cast just under the shelter of a willow tree on the opposite bank. Your fly rides on the surface film, trout are on the rise, and your spirit soars into the alpen glow of the ragged volcanic horizon.

Hair and Fur
Hair and fur are both versatile tying materials that have lasted the tests of generations of fly tyers. Many fly patterns and recipes call for natural hair or fur in the construction of tails and some will call for hair in the formation of wings and wingcases. Even spun and trimmed hair can create superbly buoyant body sections of some flies. Generally, stiffer hair should be considered when tying tails and wings while softer hair, that has a tendency to flare under the pressure created by tight wraps of thread, should be used to tie bodies. Softer fur is extremely useful in the creation of realistic nymph bodies and is also an excellent and versatile material necessary for a range of effective dry fly patterns.


Calf
Both calf body hair and calf tail hair are useful for tying wings on many dry fly patterns. It is most often used in its natural white color, but can also be found in colorful dyed varieties.






Caribou
Hair wing dry fly patterns have become wildly popular in the wake of the Royal Trude – perhaps the first American hair wing fly ever devised. These patterns range from large to small, from stimulators to realistic imitators, and commonly call for either elk or deer hair in their construction. Spun hair bodies are also popular among modern dry fly fishers and these patterns usually call for elk or deer hair as well. When tying smaller versions of these types of artificial fly patterns, it’s often a great choice to substitute softer caribou hair in place of stiffer elk and deer material. Caribou hair is hollow like both elk and deer and will lend the fly tyer similar material qualities because of it.


Deer 
Deer hair covers the range of just about all textures and levels of stiffness. A wide array of colors can also be purchased. Its properties and uses are very similar to those of Elk hair. Deer body hair is a standard material for upright wings like those required when tying dry fly patterns like a Sparkle Dun.




Elk
Elk hair is a very common material in dry fly patterns. These fibers tend to be longer than other hair options and a bit stiffer as well, making them prime for tying long lasting and realistic tails. It is available in many natural and dyed colors.





Moose 
Body hair from moose has very high rigidity or stiffness and is extremely tough, long-lasting material. Hair from a moose’s mane is also available to tyers and due to its lack of stiffness is useful for nymph patterns that require good underwater articulation and animation.




Rabbit 
Rabbit hair can be found on the hide and cut into small strips. These “bunny strips” are very useful in tying leech patterns and articulated sculpin and baitfish patterns fished below the surface in the same fashion as a standard nymph. They are available in a variety of colors, but the most common are black, brown, and olive.



Ram 
Sculpins are curious creatures. Their big heads, tapered bodies, and tremendous camouflage make them one of the more interesting bait species in the water. The bottom line: big steelhead and monster browns love them! Ram’s wool is the perfect material for use in constructing sculpin heads. Spin and trim this material for a realistic imitation of these steelhead morsels. Spirit River’s Ram’s Wool is also tremendously useful for dubbing and winging material in many of the most productive dry flies and nymphs.


Squirrel
Squirrels aren’t just back yard pests – fly tyers would be nearly lost without this important material. From Muddler Minnows to hair wing salmon flies and streamers of all kinds, squirrel tails provide some of the best fly tying material around. Spirit River’s Squirrel Tails are naturally barred and tapered, making them attractive as well as functional! This material is easy to manipulate and will satisfy all fly tyers from novice to savvy veteran. Stack this material for wings or just tie it into your flies straight off the tail.


Yak
Yaks are a bovine species native to central Asia and are commonly associated with Tibet. These animals are very large, standing nearly 2 meters tall and have very long hair that keeps them warm during the winter months. These same long fibers are perfect material for streamer patterns – large ones! These fibers are shiny and sturdy; they will help your largest streamers keep their profile and catch more fish. When tying this material onto the hook shank, alternate layers with flash products to give your flies added depth and dimension. Also, be sure to comb the fibers regularly as you construct the fly. This will help you achieve the profile and thickness you’re after. Leland’s own Keith Westra loves tying yak hair streamers for his striper fishing trips around the Bay Area. This fly tying material is rapidly becoming a crowd favorite in saltwater fly tying circles, so join the leading edge and tie up some streamers with Spirit River’s Yak Streamer Hair!