Calftail substitute

[YosemiteSam 0]

This is what I based my pattern on.

I catch lots of brook trout with these in Colorado, I've just never tied them myself until now.

[André Ribeiro 0]

This is a Quack Coachman (a Royal Coachman with calf tail wings), that after some time had the golden pheasant tail fibers of the tail changed to hair (deer, elk or moose). So became called Royal Wullf ('cause it was similar with the Wulffs' patterns).

[Guest]

Take a wrap of thread around the hairs you're tying in then tighten it down - also make sure the clump you're tying in isn't too big .

[Adam Saarinen 0]

Bear fur! :-)

[Al Beatty 0]

Hi YosemiteSam,

 

We echo the vote for poly yarn fibers for dry flies or another fairly easy dry-fly option is to use fibers from a turkey flat feather. On wet flies we've not found a good sythetic substitute for calf tail hair other than another animal's hair fibers like Canadian goat or bleached elk. In some cases Antron fibers work fairly well. Take care & ...

[McGnat 0]

For dries, as someone said,try calf body hair instead of calf tail. It is easier to work with. The problem with synthetics is you do not get the tapered tips. I doubt it matters to the fish, but looks better to the angler. Try turkey flats. I has the taper, is less bulky and easy to tie with.