realistic fly legs

[fishy guts]

i am interested in tying realistic flys, so ive been collecting materials for the flys. i havnt found anything for the legs, but today i was up by my horses, and i noticed some of their tail hair stuck on the wall. so i was messing around with it and tied a knot in it, it looked like a real leg, and i was wondering if anyone else has ever used horse tail before.

[Normand]

Alot of realistic fly tyers use "Japanese Nymph Legs" and build them from there. Porcupine guard hairs and quills are also used.

See: http://www.eflytyer.com/new_stuff/ns_materials.html

You might want to look at this site also for materials: http://www.hatchmasters.ca/index%202.html

[DianeID]

I buy the fine and medium rubber legs. I have found yellow, black, brown, and varigated. I think the last is called Tarantula Legs. I'm not sure. They are great to tie with, and the motion they have in the water is wild.

I can send you some samples if you want. Just pop me a note.

[Salmonfly]

Hey Fishy
I use horsehair a lot in my tying. Great stuff for antennaes, small tails and great as you mentioned for legs. Here is some used on a spinner pattern. They have been "heat kinked" instead of knotted.

[G-man]

FG,knot two strands of hair together and cut one strand close to the knot,gives a tapered leg and if you want to go crazy use a pair hemo-stats to add some segmentation,I also use the japanese nymph legs Norman suggested,Check out Dales site!!
G