This is the third installment of Selecting Natural Materials which can be downloaded from www.saltyflytying.com
Bucktail, or the hair found on the tails of White Tail Deer, has a variety of different textures depending on the specific animal it is harvested from. The balance of rigidity and flexibility is what makes bucktail such an effective fly tying material. It is perfect for creating very large yet virtually weightless flies. These flies tend to push a large volume of water, and move with a lifelike undulation when stripped. When wet, the supple hairs become slightly opaque and natural take on a taper teardrop shape, a perfect emulation of a baitfish.
For the other 99% of saltwater patterns and all around general fly tying, I look for bucktails with particularly long, coarse and wavy hairs.
For the rest of this entry and the complete Deep Dive in to What To Look For & Avoid When Selecting Hair, Fur & Feathers click the link, or icon to your right and download today.
-35 page downloadable pdf. illustrated
with ultra-hi resolution images.