I was looking at the fly of the week, nice simple fly too, and it uses lacquer on the shellback. I heard references to using lacquer on other deer hair patterns and was wonder what type of lacquer works the best.
Thanks,
Mike
I was looking at the fly of the week, nice simple fly too, and it uses lacquer on the shellback. I heard references to using lacquer on other deer hair patterns and was wonder what type of lacquer works the best.
Thanks,
Mike
Dunno about “best” mick but Sally Hansens Hard As Nails is what I’d use if I used any.
I’m wondering about floatability if it’s coated. Try some and see. It might be okay.
I tie some deerhair beetles like this and don’t coat them. It’s a one or two fish fly and I doubt the coating would improve that.
Jeremy.
that’s what I was kind of thinking too. I’ve used the SH black lacquer on a beetle pattern I like to tie, but was curious to what affect it would have on natural deer hairs.
Mike
Hard as nails will waterproof the deer hair, and as long as you don’t smear a lot on it doesn’t have much effect on the weight.
The deer hair will still float as long as you coat all of it. Deer hair ( below the tips, and varies with type of hair)is closed cell material ( like closed cell foam, but natural of course) but it will soak up water eventually.
The usual difficulty is coating the deer hair completely on such a shell back.
If you use very thin varnish and brush it in well it should work reasonably well, and it will make the fly a little tougher. However, with such a simple fly, this is hardly worth the bother involved.
I use some similar flies as beetles and ants, and it is rare to get more than 3 or 4 fish on them before they start coming apart, even if you varnish them, so I don’t bother doing it any more.
Some tips on deer hair;
http://globalflyfisher.com/staff/helm/selecting/types.html
TL
MC
thanks Mike for the links, very informative
Mike
If you were refering to the beetles, don’t bother coating them except for a drop at the whip finish threads. What mike conner said is true , 3-4 fish they are toast, for some reason they work really well here in the spring, and they dont get sipped, they get blasted. they are about a 2-3 minute tie and a 1/2 dozen should last you a half a day. save the hooks for reuse. another tip is pull a couple of deer fibers off to the side for legs. You may also use elk or caribou also. Elk is a pretty good choice after deer hair, it winter time, tie a pile up!
thanks for the tip on the beetle flies. I tie allot of those, along with crickets & foam spiders, they’re great flies around here for gills and crappies, they hit’em big time! I use allot of surface flies, mainly foam flies.
I just found a great deal on Elk hair on Ebay so order a bunch of it. Got tons of Deer hair stored away from last year yet. My deer hair tying is not that great but got lots to use and practice with.
Mike