This is for you pros out there…So, everyone but me!!!
How in the world do you spin deerhair? I’ve seen it on youtube, had a couple pointers, and yet, I can’t do it to save my life!!!
Any tips out there to make it easier?
Thanks a bunches!
Shane
Shane;
Although, I’m sure it’ll be attempted, I think that “trying to instruct someone on how to spin deer/Elf hair, by only reading written instructions”, is going to be like trying to push a chain down the street.
Try and get your hands on some videos, you can sit and watch over and over again and even maybe, practice spinning hair along with them. (Chris Helms’s web site is an excellent place to start). Skip Morris, Al and Gretchen, Dave Whitlock, there are many, many, excellent vids out there to learn from!!
You can also, of course,learn a great deal from books on hair spinning, IF the pictures are precise and clear enough and will take you through the steps easily.
I’ll look through my own library too and see if I still have any vids you can have on spinning hair. If I do, I’ll send them up to you, no charge.
Of course, the “end result” is still going ot be… "practice, practice, practice, one you get the basics down!
YouTube has a couple videos that are pretty good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Yl-iGWKqk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9UxjnRFfiE
Hope those help. If you want more, just go to YouTube and enter “Spinning Deer Hair” into their search feature.
go to the intermediate tying section under Fly tyin on the main site. there are some great tutorials on how to spin and stack deer hair. in there. thats how i learned. also dont be dicouraged if youre first few dont work out. it took me about half a dozen attempts to get it down well for a popper.
Here’s my tip: DON’T!
I wasted probably a dozen hooks trying to learn to spin hair Some of them finally came out decent, but I had a hard time packing it in tight enough that way that it still looked like crap. I’ve found that any pattern the calls for spun deer hair (at least the ones that I tie–probably not true in all cases) I can stack the hair instead and get the same effect. Charlie Craven ties a hair diver that looks like it is spun, but is completely stacked hair. You can see it here: http://www.charliesflyboxinc.com/flybox/details.cfm?parentID=38
Otto;
I was fortunate, to have tying lessons (as a gift from famly),and I really believe if you are able to watch someone, and do it beside him or her this thing isn’t that hard. It is really difficult to try some things just on reading. So I suggest talking to someone and get them to show you how.
Hi Shane,
Yes, spinning deer hair can be frustrating to learn but it is much easier than you might think IF you have the right hair. On a whitetail deer (other deer, elk, etc.) the hair from the rib/belly area is good spinning while the hair along the back bone, rump and shoulder areas is good for wings and tails. When you try to spin tail hair it is a major exercise in frustration.
So how do you tell wing/tail hair from rib/belly hair? Wing/tail hair is a dark gray/chocolate brown in color while the good spinning hair is light gray through out the length of the hair fiber with the exception of the very tip. Ask for rib/belly hair at your local taxidermist or local fly shop.
Once you have the right hair some of the “You Tube” instruction may make a little more sense. Good luck with your new venture in fly tying. Take care & …
Tight Lines - Al Beatty
www.btsflyfishing.com
Aw phooey, nothing to it. When you get it right you will agree. Do NOT, NOT, NOT lay a base of thread under it. Try this, just to see how simple it is. Start your thread at the bend, yes, where the tail ties in. now, hold a ‘pinch’ of HOLLOW deer hair right on top (in line with the hook shank!). Hold it there and take TWO LOOSE WRAPS of thread over the MIDDLE of the bunch.
Now, (while still holding the hair on top of the hook (not real tight)), gently start pulling on the thread and as it gets tighter allow the hair to roll around the hook. Keep pulling and watch in amazement as both ends of the hair stand up. Now pull the hairs to the left with your left hand and take a wrap IN FRONT of the hairs. Next, using the fingernails on your right hand, jam the gob of hairs back toward the bend. Now do it several times. 
JC, that may be the shortest…best…description I’ve seen in print:cool:
Thanks for the replies everyone!
After JC’s description (It sounded so easy) I quickly got tying. I must say, it worked pretty nicely. Better than the youtube vids I was watching…over, and over, and over, and over, and…Well, you get it.
Paul, thanks a lot buddy! However, I think I might have this down now:):)
Now, that being said. My first fly is sort of…well, I’m sure it would catch fish. Might be a little easier to tie deerhair bugs on something larger than 14’s too. But it turned out ok I think.
Thanks for the tips and links everyone! And thanks for the instruction JC!
Like other said, it’s quite frustrating. So much I hate it. But, a few more and I think I’ll be alright:)
Thanks a lot everyone!
Shane
As JC said, spinning is relatively easy. The Chris Helm’s tapes show some excellent techniques.
My problem is the trimming! I’m too inartistic.
Mr Castwell offers the best advise in the part about using your fingernails to pack the hair.
Learned about this from a book written by Tappley’s (Taps Bug) son…he described how his father packed the deer hair and it solved most of my problems getting it packed tightly…don’t bother with hair packers or ballpoint pen shefts use what you have…fingernails.
BY hand packing, I immediatly got 2-3 more hair stacks on the hook.
Still hate tying the buggers…messy and time consuming!
Otto - lol…
Boy, can I relate. I decided 4+ dollars was too much for a Dahlberg Diver so I figured I’d better learn on my own. I promptly went out and spent $136 on everything I needed including video by the “man” himself. (lessee - 136 divided by 4 ?) Anyway - hours and hours later - though I never “mastered” it, I learned to spin and pack (fingernails) and even got a little fancy with the colors.
Then I discovered the Stealth Bomber (lessee - two dollars worth of foam and a couple dollars worth of hooks ;)) . I haven’t spun any hair for a couple years. If you really like to tie - go for it.
Don’t get me wrong - I really am glad I learned to do it and even have a couple “presentation” flies on display. But, for my purposes … 
I hate spinning or stacking deer hair. It’s a good thing my wife, VEE is really good at it and loves doing it. If we’re tying flies like Muddler Minnows, I’ll do the body, tail and wings, she spins and trims the deer hair heads. Works for us.
aw man, bummer for those of you that hate spinning deer hair. ive got tons and tons of deer fur, the hides of which i tanned myself. i love spinning and working with deer hair. no idea why though…
but its fun for me. im actually stopping making dahlburgs, poppers, etc. because i so seldom use them and i now have about 50. just gonna have to go fishing and use some of them up:mrgreen:
Shane; One thing that I found helped a lot in the beginning was to “USE ENOUGH DEERHAIR” Being too cautious and trying to spin a Sparse tuft of deerhair can cause a lot of frustration. It won’t spin too well as it does not have enough Body. Hope it helps. Have Fun. Jax
Most important thing to remember when first starting out spinning deer hair…That same razor blade you trimmed with works equally well in clearing off the hook to start again! and forgo the glue for a bit…when ya start cranking out nicer flies…then use glues and cements…as well as fresh hooks!!!
different subject: I’ve been tying Madam X on #8 3xl long hooks and noticed that my piece of deer belly hair isn’t quite long enough to lap over the front of the hook and the tips be able to reach the bend of the hook or slightly beyond. Is there a different section of the deeir hair (straight of course) other than the belly that I should be looking for?
Shane
I would suggest going to your local fly shop, or find a fly fishing club. If these are not available then I’d suggest books and dvd’s, hands on is much better to start.
Jerry (Woodenlegs)
Just keep practicing, you seem to have found something that works for so just keep at it and don’t put it down right away or you’re most likely to lose the little bit you’ve learned. I tried and tried to learn to spin hair but with no success. Fianlly I sat down one day and said to heck with it I’m not going to stop tying until I can do this. Now I love to spin deer, antalope, carabou, even wool. Keep up the practicing and post a couple pics of what you have so far and it will work out for you I promise.
Steve