thank you, its always nice to get compliments :), if it wasnt for you guys, i probably would still be tying whooly buggers! lol
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thank you, its always nice to get compliments :), if it wasnt for you guys, i probably would still be tying whooly buggers! lol
The solution to the leg problem is really quite easy. Form the legs independently by either cementing the butts together, or binding them together with a narrow strip of masking tape. Once you have reached the point where they go, simply tie them to the hook and orient as desired, and secure to the hook with thread and a little cement. If you use masking tape, the hair does not flair, and you can tie the clump in with the masking tape still attached to help prevent flaring due to tying in. Simply tie the masking tape to the hook. Then simply proceed with the stacking/spinning until it is 'time' to tie in the last pair. You would be surprised at what you can do with deer hair using this technique. Such features do not have to be incorporated by using standard spinning/stacking procedures. This is really no different than tying in rubber legs at the appropriate points.
With respect to starting hair on a plain hook, you do it just like attaching any other material to the hook: simply attach the thread with a jamb knot and then start the first clump of hair directly on the hook, and tight up against the jamb knot. Now, to paraphrase the late Jackie Gleason, "Away you go".
Cheers!
You don't need bare hook shank to work deer hair.You could start the thread behind the eye and run down the shank. Then, at least, you'll have a firm foundation. I wouldn't try to spin that much hair. Rather than spin it I'd just flair it. Rather than put the bunch of hair on top of the hook shank put it around the hook shank. Take a couple of turns and tighten down.
For the legs I would bind them down tight past the point you want them secured, then remove a few turns. This will crimp the hair a little and stop it flaring out.
For this sort of work Flat Waxed Nylon is great. Or Uni 3/0 or UTC 240, whichever you can get.
Cheers,
A.
Thread: Kevlar 6/0 (I would even go down to 8/0 without thread snap and if you are doing Multi Color)
Deer Hair: Coastal
I agree with Alan as to laying a thread support down first. Besides Deer Hair that you can use for the spun clipped body; if you want to experiment, you can use Squirrel Tail for the Tail and Claws (just a thought). As to using Coastal Deer Hair, it is a finer Hair that Spins and packs tighter. If you are also keeping with all Deer Hair and using for the Claws and Tail, you will find this to have better action in the water. This looks like a very interesting pattern (a Crawdad ?). I was mentored as a little kid by a legend named Hank Roberts. One thing I learned about Deer Hair Patterns is that the fish love that soft bite and they will bite down and hold instead of spitting out (it is like a chew toy for them). The great thing about using Coastal Deer Hair is you can tie multi colored patterns where it becomes a real bitch to do if you are using Deer Belly or straight Deer Body Hair. If you are using Hair from a Deer you shot, consider the time of year that you harvested that Deer, whether it was Bow shot or Rifle Shot (even Black Powder), and Deer type (Muley, White Tail, Black Tail, Cous) and sex (Buck or Doe). All these factors play into the Deer Hair and spinning quality.
after giving my nerves a rest from failing with this fly this morning, i (instead of sleeping) tried a zoo cougar.
i found a great video, he was overly thorough, to a near agonizing 1/2 hour video... but i learned the deer hair i am using is late season, and its the back of a white tail buck... through vigorous searching, (i have alot of scraps from a local taxidermist) that's all i have...
made a pretty nice zoo cougar though.. lol
it seems i need a bigger hair stacker too
MR.JML:
What does what the deer was killed with have to do with the quality of the hair? It is what it is at the time the animal was killed; regardless of what it was killed with. Diet will have a definite impact on it's quality, according to Chris Helm, one of the better known deer hair tiers of the day.
The present, and former, commercial tiers of my acquaintance do not put down a thread layer on the hook; they just jamb knot and start spinning or stacking; whichever the pattern requires. (Each technique has it's own 'procedure' for a 'perfect' job.) I do NOT mean to imply that a thread base will not work; just that it is unnecessary.
I have tied with whitetail deer body hair for years, of every color imaginable, and have NEVER found it to "...become[s] a bitch...". We have had 8 and 10 year old's tie like pros with it in our club's fly tying classes. It is a snap if you use the proper techniques for both spinning and stacking. Each method has it's own technique for performing with no difficulty.
None of the outstanding deer hair tiers of my acquaintance use Kevlar thread: you can cut the hair with it. In fact, most advise AGAINST it's use. Most use either Flat Waxed or Size A tying threads for the larger 'bugs'; some may use Gelspun. In fact, most advise AGAINST the use of Kevlar. Some of these individuals are, or were, commercial deer hair bug tiers and have used every thread available.
Cheers!
this video is a little agonizing, a bit "drawn out," if u will, but at time marker 18:50 he explains deer hair qualities, what to look for and what to avoid, we are not saying u cant tie with all hair, just how to gauge the quality for ease...
obviously, less undercoat the better... when deer get closer to winter they build up their undercoat... come spring, (just like cats and dogs) they shed a bit... etc.
(i know,i know, im obsessed with kelly galloups flies lol):)
http://www.podcast.tv/video-episodes...-15498511.html
i have also heard many times to avoid Kevlar, mainly for the risk of over-torque... i have also heard Gelspun is recommended....
in Mr. JML's defense, remembering what u shot the deer with would give you a idea on the time of year.....
No problem. I will play with this rascal on the vise, only because it looks to be damned deadly !!!!!!!!!! I am a professional tyer who has been tying since I was little . Also a Bow hunter who has been doing that since I was a kid. I know a thing or two about Deer Hair, thankya very much !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I believe that early season harvests are the best for tying.
it would make sense, the hair would be stronger, since it is going through the winter coat change, less dubbing in the undercoat....