Ray
I generally do not epoxy my thunder creeks... Especially since I started using the bead chain and bear hair is tough, far tougher than deer.

I also like the head bulk it creates which is really missing in the TCs I tie because mine are SPARSE! The result is a huge-headed minnow looking fly... WHich I think looks far more natural.

Using black, brown, grizzly and polar bear hair gives me a wide range of natural colors. A couple strands of flash for a lateral line and you would swear you were at a sushi bar!
art