Elder 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 Not a fan of rabbit strips. Other ideas? Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
artimus001 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 i've seen brown soft hackle hen feathers used. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ihang10 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 I have some soft hackle feathers that have some "curve" to them that I've been considering. I think they're grouse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
artimus001 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 another material you could try is squirrel tail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted July 31, 2015 I use double pheasant w/notch on da brown ones, peacock flanks notched on da green ones, black are from duck breast notched I believe.... Drib, some chenniel /hackle for legs and body, melted mono for eyes, the same deer hair stretches from tail out front for antenna w/drib wrapped over for segmented tail. And da claws... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted July 31, 2015 Maybe better pic Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kentuckysteve 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 Great job denduke.Those are pretty amazing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ditz2 0 Report post Posted July 31, 2015 Squirrel Zonkers also work well especially for smaller flies and not near as heavy as Rabbit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
troutguy 0 Report post Posted August 2, 2015 If you have a duck, turkey, quail, pheasant or partridge skin look at the body feathers. I have seen tiers that coat them with fleximent and they look great dry but not so much wet. Â For small crayfish or crab imitations take two strands of that tight micro chenile and tie a knot. Trim the claw and melt it wit a lighter to prevent it from un raveling. Â The two pictures are crabs but you get an idea. The first is a silicon rubber pincher, the second is chenile. Â Â Â Â Reds love the crabs BTW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted August 3, 2015 Thanks for the tip. What are the bodies? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted August 3, 2015 Haven't posted in days but had to wait 12 seconds then the double post. WTF? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agn54 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2015 Another thing I have seen on crabs that could work on craws is velvet strips or even shammy cut to shape. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tidewaterfly 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2015 My preference is still the fur strips, not just rabbit, and I only add one because fish can't count. Â Cree or variant grizzly/chinchilla hackle works. Both rooster & hen hackle has it's uses. It's popular on saltwater patterns, and works as well on crawfish. Â Agree too with agn54, chamois works also. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
agn54 0 Report post Posted August 3, 2015 oops, obviously spelling is not my forte, but that one was pretty embarrassing Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest rich mc Report post Posted August 3, 2015 i use thicker chenille. patons bohemian chenille and a thinner version michaels loop and thread brand mink yarn I melt both ends of a section and tie it on in the middle then wrap another around a leg halfway thenback over it to the hook, then the other side. the thicker thigh portion keeps it from fouling . rich mc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites