Artificial hair wings

[oldster]

Tying Parachutes and Royal wulffs and other white winged flies with artificial hair,while easier than using deer or calf
wings, It seems to me they are less visible on the water. While they look good when dry they seem to get transparent when wet and harder to see than natural hair. Does anyone use white artificial hair that does not become transparent when wet and less visible to my old eyes?

[Rick Z]

I use more zelon sorts of materials for the wing posts.
Several colors make the flies easier to see.

Rick

[ScottP]

I use Congo Hair for just about all of my parachute posts.












The only time I have a problem with visibility is in evening glare/flat light conditions; then I'll go to a black wing or hot orange













Regards,
Scott

[whatfly]

Tend to favor "Web Wing" which is just polypropylene I suspect (no different than Congo Hair), and "Hi Viz" which is a much shinier product in a variety of colors. Neither become transparent when wet. I am curious what product you are using oldster that led you to this conclusion.

It should be said, I only use synthetics for parachutes. Thorax ties like the Royal Wulff still get calf tail wings. I just like the look better.

[nfrechette]

use different colors for different lighting conditions

[oldster]

Thanks for everyone's input. I've mostly used polypro and Widows web and a few others that may be poly also. To me , none are as visible as calf hair. I need to try congo hair that Scott swears by. Norm, I can't read the details of the product you are suggesting. What is it and where do you get it?. I'm thinking about trying turkey flats.

[Chuck441]

Turkey flats are the bee's knees, oldster! Give them a try. (Bee's knees? Really?).

Chuck

[ScottP]

mostly used polypro and Widows web and a few others that may be poly also... I need to try congo hair that Scott swears by.

Congo Hair is polypropylene, just like Widows Web, EP Fibers, etc; main reason I like it is cost and color selection.

Regards,
Scott

[Longs for Cutts]

I use synthetics almost exclusively on all dry fly wings now. About the only hairwing flies I tie in quantities of more than a dozen or so a year (and we're talking commercial tying here) are blond CDC & Elk caddis. I generally use Widow's Web on everything else, from stoneflies to mayflies to caddis (Clacka Caddis and V-wing caddis cripples).