I recently tied my first few spun deer hair bugs. I keep breaking the thread when I spin the hair.
Is it my technique or does one need to go to a stronger thread for this tying technique?
Use kevlar or Gel spun thread it’s very strong.
Turk
I always go to a 3/0 for tying down deer hair in my flies. After I’m finished tying down the deer hair, I will switch to a 6/0 or 8/0, depending on what I’m tying.
Personally i use 6/0 UNI-Thread for tying most of my deer hair bugs and it works good for me. Depending on what you were using and breaking try moving up to a 3/0 thread and see if that works any better.
It all comes down to what works best for YOU, try a few different sizes and see how they “feel”.
Jamie
[url=http://www.jamiescustomflies.com:5de83]Jamie’s Tackle Shop[/url:5de83]
Danville flat waxed nylon for everything except small stuff.
I use Danville 140 Flymaster Plus. Works like a charm.
CJ
The only limitations we have are the ones we put on ourselves.
I tie my bass bugs with Gudebrod GX2 Gel Spun. It is incredibly strong at 6 pounds 8 oz of breaking strength. It is also fairly thin in diameter (130 denier) so an extra turn here or there won’t add up.
Roman Moser Power Silk is another great deer hair thread for smaller flies.
Refer to Chris Helm’s online Catalog. He has an extensive table and article on threads. [url=http://www.whitetailflytieing.com/:ce7b1]http://www.whitetailflytieing.com/[/url:ce7b1]
I agree with the GX2 Gel Spun.
I use Flat Waxed Nylon for all my bass bugs but switch down to Uni 6/0 for Goddard Caddis and Muddlers.
Alberto
Moser Powersilk… Its thin as strong as a chain and I use it all the time now…
But with any gel spun thread, the danger is pulling it right through the hair. It is so strong it will cut your fingers and right through material too.
[This message has been edited by mickporter (edited 15 April 2006).]
3/0 monochord mostly, but I only spin, tried stacking with this a few times and it broke because of the force needed.
6/0 too and sometimes 8/0 with caribou.
later
Mike
The 10 pound breaking strength Spiderwire also works very well if you don’t have a fly shop handy that sells the Kevler or Gel Spin thread. WalMart usually has some.
Good Luck!
Buddy.
Buddy
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. It sounds like most folks are using stronger thread for this application.
I have been using 6/0 and will go to something stronger.
Thanks again.
You can definitely do it with 6/0. I almost always use 8/0 for spinning. You just have to develope a feel for the thread and how hard you can pull. If you’re breaking your thread you’re obviously pulling harder than necessary.
Jeremy
I respectfully disagree with Jeremy’s post above. I would say that if you are breaking your thread when tying bass bugs, then you need to use a heavier thread.(This is only true with spinning hair) With bass bugs, it’s important to use a lot of pressure when spinning or stacking, this is what makes the fly more durable and compact. A loosely tied bass bug will not be that durable and you will have trouble packing it tight.
The Gel Spun thread will tie as compact as the 6/0 and 8/0 threads at a much greater breaking strength, so why not use them?
I suggest you rent one of Chris Helm’s videos or give him a call. He explains this much better that I ever could.
I’ve used them all for deerhair, but like Kevlar the most. Haven’t broken off yet.
I like the 140 UTC. I find that anything else is over kill and am too cheap to pay for the kevlar or Gel spun.
I catch toothy critters with them all the time and have not had any problems with them falling apart.
I find that if I wrap them too tight I can’t stack as tight and push back the stacks to get a real tight body.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
[This message has been edited by Micropteris (edited 25 April 2006).]
Thread is a amazing product, that can be constructed from various materials, by various methods. I wrote a thesis(an essay embodying results of research from various sources), on this topic for FAOL, for you to better understand and chose the right product for the tying work. ~Parnelli
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/tyingtips/part211.html:33137]Tying Tip Article “Thread”.[/url:33137]
[This message has been edited by Steven H. McGarthwaite (edited 25 April 2006).]
Just wanted to mention that the article by Steven is the best one I’ve seen and rely on it heavily. great information.
Steve (Rookie)
Soda,
I had a deerhair question that’s been irking me for a week or more and I finally posed the question to Chris Helm last night. He’s one INFORMED hair guy, let me tell ya! Very, very helpful and knowledgeable.
I mentioned tying bass bugs and the thread question came up. He suggested to me the Gudebrod threads as a pref.
Can’t recall the exact denier info he suggested He’s sending some out though so I’ll get reminded. Much was discussed. I just couldn’t jot down the info fast enough.
HTH
Jeremy.