Microfibbets for spinners; moose, deer, or Whiting's Tailing packs (CDL) for duns; zelon for emergers/cripples.
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Microfibbets for spinners; moose, deer, or Whiting's Tailing packs (CDL) for duns; zelon for emergers/cripples.
I save the short hackle that can't get too many winds on the collar and tie it in as a tail. I also found in "another" western fly tying book from years ago that moose is a popuar tail material.
Micro Fibbets mostly. I have CDL tailing packs but the colors don't thrill me and I don't want to get into dyeing.
I use moose for my Adams(es).
CDL. My micro-fibbets packs have remained untouched for a few years now.
Add another vote for CDL. Great mottled look and there are color variations. One of the prettiest natural feathers I know.
REE
Cat Whiskers...................use pliers not scissors.
Just kidding, but I have seen one on the carpet and thought ........Hmmmmm......
I use Coq de Leon, and microfibbets for most of my dries.
Kelly.
Duffin, my cat loves to curl up next to me when I am at my tying bench so more than once I have found whiskers lying about have also thoughtt about using them for caddis antenna.
For Tailing am still experimenting fibbits or hackle if i can find something I like. Wish I hadn't left that long chunk of mink I found at a swap meet at my ex wifes house that sounds like an excellent idea.
I also like the Coq de Leon but would like to offer another alternative for those who don't. Al Rockwood who used to run a mail order fly fishing business from his North Muskegon home used porcupine guard hairs for tails on all of the larger flies in his mayfly series. I've never seen them in any other fly fishing catalog but they can be purchased from businesses that sell items for native American crafts. If you collect your own be aware that the quills have a tendency to show up all over the place for weeks after plucking them to get to the guard hairs but roast porcupine is quite tasty.
Those pliers better have long handles if the cat is like any I have met.