I have been watching a DVD my sister gave me for Christmas on Catskill style streamers and bucktails. The bucktail patterns interested me so I purchased several different color bucktail. When I went to use them I noticed that some of the bucktails had fine hair and some had fairly kinky hair. Is there a grading system for bucktail whereby you can determine the straightness of the hair (other than visual)? And why are the dyed ones not completely dyed? I noticed that about 20% of the dyed tail is left its natural color.
[This message has been edited by TyroneFly (edited 21 January 2006).]
Bucktails are generally sold independent of the thickness or kinkiness of the hair. Some may be graded per size like Jumbo or Saltwater, but most are simply Bucktails. Bottom line is you have to examine the material to see if it’s what you want. Short of that,explain what you are looking for to the person taking an over-the-phone order and hope for the best.
As far as color, the natural tail has white on the sides and brown/deep brown in the center. The dye really effects the white and the center just gets a little darker with a hue of the dye color.
Don’t give up on that “undyed” portion of bucktail too quickly. Granted it lacks the rich color of the white portion of the tail but much of the time it has taken on subtle shades of the dyed color. That subtle color in yellows, greens and olives is often just what the doctor ordered for great baitfish imitations. 8T
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
Tyrone:
I go thru a process to straighten out hair when I need to. First I wash the bucktail with liqid soap and warm water. Rinse it good, then I blow dry it, while it is still very damp I take my wifes old iron (wouldn’t want to get beat) and iron the bucktail. I place it on newspaper to do this. I also have done calftail. It will make a difference, won’t be anywhere near totally straight, I don’t like that look anyway, but it will be straighter.
Might bee too much trouble for some.
Bob Scheidt
Here’s a little tail info you might not know. The hair (the fine stuff you mention) towards the tip half is solid and won’t flair. This kind of hair makes the best streamers. The other half or so of the tail is more like body hair and will flair.
Some tails have perfeclty straight hair and are highly prized and uncommon.
Most tails are quite greasy and smelly, even the dyed ones. That’s why I wash them in lukewarm water with some mild detergent, rinse them, and then rinse again with water and hair conditioner. That will give you very soft and clean hair to work with.
While the tail is still wet I turn them over, and with a very sharp knife I cut it lenghtwise, following the dark center area. Be careful not to cut through the hair - just nick the skin, open the cut by bending the tail, and make a new, deeper cut.
This separates the white (sides) from the dark hair in the middle and makes the pieces easier to handle.
I was told a while back that the tail from a Doe has finer and straighter hair then those from a buck. Usually they are smaller in size, Everybody goes for the biggest tail they can find thinking they are getting more for their money but are not getting the hair that they really wanted.I like to ty Rangeley style streamers and a finer straighter hair is really important.
