My first attempt at spinning deer's hair

[spinsheet 0]

I just watched a Youtube video of someone creating a fly by spinning deer's hair. I've been wondering how that was done so I gave it a shot. I would post a picture of it but I would be afraid of getting laughed out of this forum. This is one very challenged fly. It was lots of fun making, but boy do I have work to do. I suppose that a very hungry and nearsighted bass might take it but that's about it.

 

Might anyone have any directions for a VERY beginner level bass fly using spun deer hair? Or at least any tips for a very challenged fly tier?

[nick2011 0]

No one is here to laugh at you,plus we cant help you if we cant see your flies..

[mikechell 0]

Although I've now been tying for a little while, I am still new to it. Deer hair is what drew me back into tying. Pat Cohen has some good videos on advanced methods of spinning and stacking. But here's a few details I didn't find out until I'd almost given up ever being able to do it.

1. Use the proper hair. I assumed that all deer hair was the same. I spent several months going through a couple of bucktails before someone told me that tail hair isn't hollow and won't flare. Silly me ... just because all these videos and stuff, NO ONE says, deer BODY hair.

2. Use as small a diameter thread as you can tie with, don't over tighten, as this will just cut the hair or break the line. Using smaller diameter thread allows tighter packing of the hair after spinning.

3. Be sure your thread is well anchored to the hook before you begin spinning. I wasted bundles of hair when my thread started spinning on the hook, freeing all the tying materials to flee off the table.

4. Start big ... use a large hook, tie some hair mice. Since this is almost all spun hair, there's nothing to get in the way or to distract from a good job. Spin on a bundle, push it back firmly, spin on a bundle, push it back firmly, continue until you can't get anymore on.

5. If you follow Pat Cohen's style, you'll also put a little head cement on each bundle's threads before pushing back.

6. Practice and don't expect good results every time. If you expect a bad result and don't get it, that's good! If you expect a good result and don't get it, that's frustrating. Everyone makes mistakes, and spinning deer hair is visual proof, so just cut it off and try again.

 

7. Good luck ... I am still cutting bad spins off.

[Jolly Red 0]

One thing that seemed to help me with spinning deer hair is to trim the tips off the hair before spinning it in (if you are going to be trimming the tups anyway. Somemay need to be left on to make a skirt or tail, check the pattern you want to end up with). This also reduces the thin hairs in the tie, so it is a little more bouant......bouyunt.... floats better.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

A taps bass bug is a great place to start as it is simple spin and stack I love tying with deer hair and it can get quite advanced and time consuming few things I would recomend first is GSP thread a brand new sharp pair of curved sissors and double edge razor blade

[streamcaddis 0]

I can spin hair just fine. My problem trimmihg the hair. When I get done the hook is balder then I am. Get a Chris Helm Dvd, I have 3 of his and watch one before I spin my deer hair.

[flysmallie 0]

I can spin hair just fine. My problem trimming the hair.

 

 

I hear that. I get something good and then go way to far.

 

 

Two tips that you have already heard. 1. Quality hair. 2. GSP.

[MIKE*A 0]

Great recommendations on GSP thread, quality deer hair, and Chris helm DVD,s..........go to whitetail flytying.com, that is helms fly shop. He sells the absolute best deer hair, I stocked up on his deer hair this past weekend at the BUFF show in Cincy, Ohio. He hand selects al of his deer hides......just tell him what you need the deer hair for, muddler heads, bass bugs, etc. and what size hooks and he will set you up!

 

Mike

[agn54 0]

These are a couple of really good videos on how to spin and stack deer hair

 

 

 

One word of caution though, these guys make it look a lot easier than it is, at least for me. So it's going to take practice. It's like watching Bob Ross paint, after a show I feel like I can do the same, but then I remember I can't draw a straight line

[dontheo 0]

I love hair of any kind. It's what I started on so I really like spinning it. Chris helm is great. While I got good at spinning the trimming always was a problem. One deft cut and it's over. Get some of the double sided razor blades the kind dad used. Then when you trim you can bend the blade in an oval and it makes a perfect cut. Keep an eye on that sucker. All you want to cut is the hair.

[Piker20 0]

Good advice and it really does come.down to practice and packing real hard. The fugly packer someone showed last week amazed me in the difference in packed volume. Just keep at it.