Material sources

[pnptrapp 0]

Since I haven't been tying long, I was wondering do fly tying shops, both brick and motor and online, carry certain materials only part of the year? I'm looking for elk hair and have been having a hard time finding it in my go to shops. Since the people I know who hunt haven't gotten anything this year I can't get it from them...

 

So my question is do the materials that have hunting seasons become scarce during the year?

 

 

[the.atmos 0]

i would suggest no. i've never seen it at least. my brick and mortar carries Hareline and Nature's Spirit and i've never seen it be gone -- inconsistent in quality, yes (i'm talking to you, Hareline) but never gone.

 

of course, there's countless places to buy online but you never know what exactly you're going to get. pink chenille is pink chenille. but a bleached cow elk patch and a bleached cow elk patch could be different. i like to buy my hair only when i can see it before i buy it.

 

other than that, i'd check out chris helm's warehouse:

http://whitetailflytieing.com/

he has by far the best hair i've ever worked with. the best.

 

or

 

nature's spirit is always on point, too. they have really good natural materials all-around.

http://www.naturesspiritflytying.com/

[pnptrapp 0]

Thanks!

[RCFetter 0]

I just a beginner myself but I've learned there is coarse and fine elk hair. Hareline's "coastal" elk hair is fine, very thin, and better for dries e.g. elk hair caddis.

 

One online source, Performance Flies, sells bull, cow, yearling and early season bull, etc. but I don't know the difference.

 

 

http://www.performanceflies.com/category-s/170.htm

 

 

I just found a Charlie Craven article on types of hair. Elk hair is explained about 1/4 of the page down:

 

http://midcurrent.com/flies/fly-tying-hair-selection/

 

[Al Beatty 0]

Hi pnptrapp,

 

Yes, materials CAN be more difficult to find during some times of the years, especially items from harvested wild life. EX: Elk or deer is often less available throughout the year than calf hair might be. Blue Ribbon Flies (http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/) is a good source for deer, elk or moose hair especially during this time of the year. Take care & ...

[Balloffloss 0]

I second Blue Ribbon Flies great people who love to assist you.

[Rolf Jacobsen 0]

I second Blue Ribbon Flies great people who love to assist you.

Add me to the list. Blue Ribbon is an excellent source with great customer service.

[pnptrapp 0]

looking at the blue ribbon site now.

[bighornbuster 0]

For the same reasons as Blue Ribbon, I suggest Parks Fly Shop in Gardiner, Montana. Very close to a great source ( Yellowstone) and also on a migration route. Think about Kelly Galloup Slide Inn shop as well. Have fun.

[jacktjl 0]

I just a beginner myself but I've learned there is coarse and fine elk hair. Hareline's "coastal" elk hair is fine, very thin, and better for dries e.g. elk hair caddis.

 

One online source, Performance Flies, sells bull, cow, yearling and early season bull, etc. but I don't know the difference.

 

 

http://www.performanceflies.com/category-s/170.htm

 

 

I just found a Charlie Craven article on types of hair. Elk hair is explained about 1/4 of the page down:

 

http://midcurrent.com/flies/fly-tying-hair-selection/

 

 

Thanks RC that is a great article by Charlie Craven. I appreciate the post.