What is the difference between them and where can you get them? Are there any cheap substitutes for them? Thanks, Travis
Printable View
What is the difference between them and where can you get them? Are there any cheap substitutes for them? Thanks, Travis
microfibbetts are synthetic (artist paintbrushes) and mayfly tails are real.
a good substitute is coq de leon feathers
you can get them from some of the sponsors on this site dealing fly tying materials (except for the mayfly tails. they come from the real bug)
I'll 2nd Norms response. CDL is my personal choice. I buddy of mine however buys the pale tan natural paint brushes....and dyes them with with RIT. I prefer the CDL personally, but you get a lifetime supply with one paint brush color.
The scientists and engineers on the board might tell us that they're made from different co-polymers or something, but for all intents and purposes, they're the same for flytying. I believe that Mayfly Tails are pre-soaked in WaterShed.
There probably isn't a fly shop in the land that doesn't carry one or the other.
If I want to make sparse split tails, I opt for fibbets. Otherwise, I usually go with CDL as well. Not always the perfect match to the natural, but I doubt the fish care.
I sure hope when I have to go back to work, they don't make me pluck the tails off mayflies.:D
.... that you can't do with microfibets and mayfly tails.
Follow the link for some ideas and a look at my favorite little mayfly ( read bwo ).
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/s...684-CDL-nymphs
Whiting puts out a "CDL Tailing Pack" that goes for $16 but will last the best part of a lifetime. The light Pardo has a wider range of coloration than the medium and dark Pardos.
Also, the lighter color CDL fibers take marking pen quite nicely.
John
Now back to your regularly threaded discussion.
Whiting CDL is a pseudo CDL and not the real thing....... Genuine CDL comes from spain and costs about 5 - 7 Euros for a plume of around 12 single feathers. (They are plucked from between the shoulders of a live bird NOT from the neck, so therefore cannot be obtained as capes or necks as Whitings supply!) Genuine CDL is a beautiful feather.
To get back on topic after my rant.......... Probably the cost of genuine Coq De Leon is higher than Microfibbets, although I agree if you can get it its well worth the cost. I use synthetic paintbrushes. You can find them in various shades from black, grey to a light olive colour. I catch fish (sometimes); not sure if I would catch more using the packets of microfibbets sold in fly tying shops or not. I think they are more designed to catch fly tiers and am sure someone is sat with a bucket load of cheap paint brushes cutting them up and packing them into tiny packets and making his or her fortune!
Hi Mick,
I agree with you that CDL from Spain is superior and as you say expensive. Whiting Farms CDL that comes in Tailing Packs is from between the shoulders and for about the same price as CDL from Spain you get a whole bunch more feathers. Each generation of CDL from Whiting is getting better than the last. I have some CDL from Whiting that rivals CDL from Spain. Every once in a while I take out my CDL i got from Paco and admire it, it is beautiful stuff. Just can't get me self to use it!
Back to the thread, Microfibbets are great for split tail para flies or lowrider flies. They are a bit soft for traditional dries.
Jim
I have to politely disagree that Microfibbets are too soft for traditional tails. I prefer them over traditional hackle because they are more stiff and much more uniform to work with. I prefer them for split type tails due to the fact that they are stiffer than hackle fibers. All around they have their application just as CDL and hackle fibers. I still prefer the material sold as Microfibbets and not paint brush material. Easier to work from and with, as well as to store. Very uniform and you can find whatever color you need, and there is a lot in one bunch.
Kelly.