My first attempt at spinning deer hair, yikes!

[spinsheet 0]

How hard can spinning deer hair be? Looks easy enough on the videos that I watched...

 

Well, now I know. After breaking the thread about four times and dropping hair all over the place I realize this might not be so easy after all. Not sure if I used too much at one time or maybe not enough. I was using 6/0 thread and kept breaking it. Is that thread too light or am I just putting too much pressure on it? If anyone has any tips or a good video for someone that is 'deer hair challenged' I would sure appreciate it!

[mikechell 0]

Might look okay after it's been trimmed. Thread tension is usually the first thing you'll have to learn for yourself. I use braid ... 10# test, 2# diameter for my hair work. The opposite of breaking thread is that you'll cut through the hair. That's what I have to avoid, since the braid won't break before that.

I need to get back to that, too.

[phg 0]

6/0 is too light a thread for spinning deer hair. 3/0, or 210denier, will work, although most deer hair spinners use GSP. Without seeing your process, I'm only guessing, but, if you think you may be using too thick a bundle, then you probably are. Each bundle should be no thicker than a pencil.

 

Chris Helm is the master of deer hair spinning. Google him and you'll find a good selection of DVD's and a few videos. Here's a viedo to get you started, but it's not Chris Helm: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=chris+helms+deer+hair&ei=UTF-8&fr=moz35

[Fish For Life 0]

I like using Kevlar thread, pull as hard as you want. Works great for me

[netabrookie 0]

I have used 6/0 thread to spin hair for Irresistible's but it is hard to get the results that you are after without breaking your thread. I hardly ever tie them anymore because it is just too much effort to put out and then one little limb that you didn't notice hanging over that great looking spot..... I agree with the GSP thread and use it for poppers. I have used Kevlar thread and it will bend a hook before breaking but it is hard for me to cut after I have finished the fly. I will have to try Mike's suggestion because I am always open top new ideas.

[mvendon 0]

Hi spinsheet,

 

For that sized fly 6/0 is probably a little too light. It definitely needs a little more trimming. Have you stuck it over some steam to get the hair to really flare back up? If not, try that before re-trimming it.

 

Regards,

Mark

[spinsheet 0]

I think that mistake number one was that I used bucktail and not regular deer hair for this one. Would that make a difference?

[Randyflycaster 0]

I would go with coarse deer hair. Whitetail Fly Tieing (Chris Helm's fly shop) is a good place to buy deer hair. If you

call them up and tell them what you're tying they'll sell you the exact hair you need.

 

http://whitetailflytieing.com/index.htm

 

Randy

[utyer 0]

Some of the hair one the very bottom of a buck tail will spin. Its not the best, but it will work ok. The top 80% of most buck tails is very fine and not hollow, so spinning with that is not going to work out.

Good coarse body hair is what you want to be using, and the above link to Whitetail Fly Tying is the place to get it. Spinning is best done with heavy thread, at least 3/0 or heavier. I have several spools of the old Gudebrod G size thread, which works fine for me. On smaller flies, I can get by with 3/0, but not 6/0. The Danville flat waxed nylon or the UNI Big Fly from would be better than most 6/0 thread. In GSP (gel spun poly,) the Veevus is the best value, but Veevus 6/0 is strong enough, but its also fine enough to start cutting the hair. Best to stick with a strong thicker thread.

[mikechell 0]

I think that mistake number one was that I used bucktail and not regular deer hair for this one. Would that make a difference?

I bought a fly tying kit back in ... geeze, the last century ... and it came with "deer hair". I didn't know the difference between that and Bucktail ... so I tried spinning "deer hair" for a year or more before I gave up on it. I just couldn't figure out how to get the hair to stand up !!!

 

Now, I've finally been set straight ... there is a difference. Do feel stupid ... it's a newby thing, not a stupidity thing.

All you other guys can just keep your opinions of my stupidity levels to yourselves.

[FlyTyer15 0]

you could also try and pack the hair more. IMO I like a tightly packed deer hair fly. You could trim that into the shape of a bullet head and it would look amazing.

[ditz2 0]

You made the first 'mistake' of most first time spinners......the hair is not trimmed close enough. I did it and I bet most first timers do it. Just couldn't bring myself to cut off all the work it took to get it on the hook. Large, wet hairbugs are very hard to cast and the legs here will add to the difficulty unless you are using at least a 9wt. Shorten the legs and trim it closer and it will cast and catch fish.

 

I do use 6/0 uni to spin heads on muddlers but one needs to be very careful and I usually manually help the hair to spin around the hook. 3/0 uni will work for hairbugs but you still need to use a little caution as the thread can break. For a beginner I would recommend GSP 100. As Utyer said the heavier threads do work. I don't care for them because of the bulk but they will work fine especially for a beginner. ....A pencil sized bunch is a good size to use. I sometimes use bunches about as large as I can pinch and hold and they will spin just fine if you are using good strong thread. I mostly use GSP 100.....3 loose wraps, tighten and spin, 1 wrap around hook in front of the hair and a half hitch, pack tightly, a good sized drop of SH at base of hair and hook junction.....( the SH drop will make the body very stable on the hook and it seems to keep the hook from rusting after use while in storage.I have bugs that are several years old )....repeat until hook is full. .....I always start trimming on the bottom of the bug and I trim close to the hook shank and I trim it flat. Then the real fun begins......enjoy

[spinsheet 0]

Thanks for all the advise. I bought some deer body hair and some 210 denier flat waxed nylon. I couldn't find any GSP thread. Will the 210 denier be sufficient? I also trimmed with scissors but I do have some double edge blades for my shaver. I assume that will do a better job than the scissors? I might also try one of my straight blade razors. I have a few that are shave ready and they might be a lot easier to handle for this. I also used the empty body of a pen to pack the hair on the hook. Would an actual hair packer do a better job? I don't mind buying the right tool for the right job but if some household object does just as good a job I'm good with that too.

 

I bought deer body hair dyed green, some that was natural, and some deer belly hair that was white. Couldn't find any deer body hair dyed black. Will deer belly hair work for spinning? I was hoping to get some green, black, and white in there as that was in the pattern that I'm trying to copy. I also don't feel that my hook had enough shank. I picked up some 4xL size 4 hooks. Would that be the right size for a bass frog?

[phg 0]

Deer belly hair is the preferred hair for spinning. It's coarse, short tipped and hollow, all desirable characteristics.

 

210 denier flat waxed nylon will work, but you will need to twist it first. Just spin the bobbin for a few seconds before wrapping. You don't want the thread to kink, but you do want a moderate twist in it. 201 denier is approximately the same as 3/0.

 

For trimming, most "masters" take a double edged razor blade and snap it in half. This gives them 2 very flexible trimming blades. Just hold it between your thumb and 2nd finger, backing it up with your index finger. Flex the blade to get a slight curve, and carve away.

[Ty Flyer 0]

I think that mistake number one was that I used bucktail and not regular deer hair for this one. Would that make a difference?

Yes, It definitely would.