Spinning question

[flyfishing4life 0]

I have never spun hair before so what is the best way to learn and start???

[Iowaflyguy 0]

I used the DVD Spinning Deer Hair with Chris helm. It is a good place to start.

He also has other dvd's on spinning you might want to check out.

 

-Tom

[flyfishingtaz 0]

there was a virtual class on the forum not to long ago on this. stack your hair on the top of the shank. 1st do a soft wrap then 2 more firm wraps. then half hitch to lock it in place. Roll over to the bottom of the hook, and then take a clump of hair, even the tips, dont stack, and tie in. soft wrap, then 2 tight wraps, and half hitch. repeat until you get to your finish point. Thats the best I can explain it.

[arkfisher 0]

I've only been spinning hair a short time ( couple months ) and I can say from experience, the DVD's are great, but unless you sit down with someone and tie with them, you'll not get the whole jist of it. I recently took a deer hair class at the local fly shop. It only cost me 35$ for 3 nights (3 hours per night) and I learned a LOT!!! I'm actually a little embarrased about the deer hair bugs I sent in for the swap a few weeks ago!

 

The main thing with deer hair, however, is don't get discouraged, have patience, and practice practice practice. Dave Whitlock has an awesome video with a lot of good techniques, but like I said, the best is to sit down with someone.

 

Richard

[Bruce Derington 0]

Lets get a virtual class going, its free! Arkfisher is right, the best way to QUICKLY learn would be sitting with someone, so you can not only ask questions BUT he can coach you as you go or if you start getting yourself in trouble. And Arkfisher is correct in commenting about the deerhair swap, there were some questionable flies in that swap! So if we can get some interest we can revisit a virtual class and do something simple like fly attached Regards Bruce

[morfrost 0]

Spinning Deer Hair

 

Here's what I do.

 

Select a chunk of hair and cut from the skin. Size of chunk varies according to the application. For a deer hair bug or bomber ( Salmon fly), about as big around as a wooden pencil is about right. Pinch bunch in one hand ( left for righties) near the tips and clean out any underfur. Turn the stack of hair around and trim the tips. Usually the last 1/4 of the overall length of the bunch. This keeps the hair a pretty constant diameter along its length. For Muddler hair collar (next to wing) you would leave the tips on.

 

Apply hair bundle to the hook. Lay along shank at tie in spot and hold in position while taking 2 loose turns around middl of deer hair bundle and hook shank . Now pull UP with thread while releasing hair. Pull up steadily( Fairly quick pull up) and firmly ; do not jerk thread up. This will spin hair around shank while making it flair as it spins around shnk. Wrap a couple turnsthrough bundle to the front of the bundle while keeping good tension on the thread. Take a turn or two at the front of the bundle. Compress the bundle if you want to pack it. Take left thumb and index finger and pinch hook shank behind bundle. Do the same with right hand at front of hook bundle. Push right hand toward left hand to compress hair. Take a turn of thread in front of packed hair.

 

Muddler hair collar tied on at 1/4 to 1/3 point with long end & tips pointing back.Take 2 loose wraps, then 1 tight wrap while holding tips. This will make short ends flair, but not spin, and will keep tips from flairing too much when released. This is the frist application of deer hair. Subsequent ones will be as described above, to allow you to sculpt the Muddler head.

 

Takes a little practice. It's fun to watch the deer hair spin around kook shank. Trimming hair is usually messy. Tie up a bunch f deer hair flies then trim all at one time. Concentrate the mess.

 

Tighnt Lines.

 

 

[bowfin47 0]

BUY BILLY MUNN"S DVD!!!!

 

For over 20 years at FFF Conclaves, I have been tying next to or sitting across from the Texas Deer Hair Master Tyer and 1986 Buz Buszek Award winner, Billy Munn. In the opinion of many tyers, Billy is the one of the best, if not THE BEST deer hair tyer in the world. A great gentleman, Billy has taught thousands of tyers all the tricks of tying with deer hair.

 

Have ya' ever wondered why so many great deer hair tyers are from Texas.. it's because they have been taught by Billy or by someone who learned from him.

 

Last year, a Dallas DVD production company approached Billy to make a deer hair instructional DVD, and they did a fantastic job.

 

It was in October at the FFF Southern Council Conclave in Mt. Home, Arkansas, when I first saw that this DVD was for sale, and I immediately purchased a copy for $25.00. I would have gladly paid $100.00 and still got my money's worth, and a whole lot more. Many times, I have spent a lot more than that to drive from South Louisiana to Mt. Home to spend time learning from Billy at the Southern Council Conclaves.

 

This is an outstanding DVD. In his always low key manner, Billy covers selecting hair, spinning, stacking, trimming, tailing and a number of other facets of the art.

 

If you ever want to learn this art... BUY THIS DVD!

 

Where? I don't know, except that I understand that Billy has some DVD's at his home. I Goggled Billy in Bridgeport Texas and got this address and phone number:

 

Billy W Munn

262 Cuba Rd.

Bridgeport, TX 76426

 

(940) 683-4512

 

Or you can come on down to the 1st Annual Federation of Fly Fishers Gulf Coast Expo on May 18-20, 2007, Friday-Sunday, at the Lake Charles Civic Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Lefty Kreh and Nick Curcione will be headlining the FFF Gulf Coast Council's first Conclave, but word has it that Billy Munn will be attending as one of these invited tyers. Actually, many of the South's best tyers have already accepted invitations to tie.

 

Hell, come on down, the food alone will be worth the trip!!

 

Tight lines,

 

Kyle

 

P.S.

 

I don't have a financial stake in this DVD, but, I'm real happy to own one!!