shucks

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Instead of using the usual antron for trailing shucks has anyone ever used naturally barred feathers like teal or woodduck? Doesn’t it seem that the barred feather fibers better represent a segmented shuck? Just looking for some ideas and opinions.
Bruce

2

barred feathers were the standard til the translucent fibers. it’s kind of a tossup, barred feather fibers for segmentation, synthetic fibers for translucence like the shuck. also filo plume and maribou have been used to simulate shucks. all other things being equal there seems to be little difference other than synthetic is more durable and maybe a bit less expensive.

3

Hey Wes: Why not use some antron fibers for the translucent look along with some wooduck fibers to add the appearance of segmentation? What do you think?
Bruce

4

hey bruce…i think every idea needs to be tried. keep it sparse.

5

kimball’s emerger is a good example

http://www.danica.com/flytier/rstanton/kimballs_diptera_emerger.htm

heres another idea: stalcups trailing shucks

http://mistpool.com/product_info.php?products_id=347

but dont buy them, make them

larva lace or other fly tying tubing
hemostats
bic type lighter

clip a short piece of lace lengthwise in the hemostats. heat up the hemostats with the lighter. this will melt the lace into the grooves of the hemostat. after the lace is cooled it will look like the ones in the link i provided above. try different colors of lace.

6

I use a little bit of all in various different patterns. I do especially like the coppery transluscent fibers from Wild Turkey flank feathers. I prefer the barred feather fibers, or most anything natural over synthetics whenever I can.

My LTD uses pheasant tail fibers, and over the years on that particular pattern it won hands-down over anything else I’ve tried.

7

I have used a section of silk stockings. works fore me.

8

O.K., you knew this was coming… what’s your source of the stockings? But- seriously- do you mean actual silk, or today’s universal nylon? Just curious.

Chuck

9

Woodduck is the preferred shuck in John Gierach’s Good Flies.

Here’s my version of one of the flies…

http://www.danica.com/flytier/sschwartz/bwo_palm_emerger.htm

10

looks like ANY BARRED FEATHER fibers will work as shucks

11

Just today’s universal nylon. It comes in a lot of different colors so you have a variety fore nothing if you have a wife that uses them, or a friend fore that matter.

Chuck

12

http://www.riverhouseflyco.com/patterns/rivergod-emerger/

Have had great success with this style of tail on emergers and preemerging duns. JIMC