Deer hair

[MuskyFlyGuy 0]

How much hair do you use off a buck tail before you throw it away? Just the color or that plus the partially colored section on the back?

[josephcsylvia 0]

I use the mixed color stuff on the back for things like clousers I like the look I get with the dyed tips.

[Fish For Life 0]

I use it all. I like the main hair as it is much brighter and longer. But the back is sometimes useful because its darker. I guess why wouldn't you use it all, you get two colors per tail. lighter and a darker color. The only downside the the darker back is that it is shorter, so you cant make as big flys with it. But still good.

[flytire 0]

yup use it all

 

there are patterns that call for the dark side of the tail

[Crackaig 0]

The tails we get here are not of the quality many of you in the US are used to. As a tail gets used up the skin usually disintegrates, that's when I throw mine away.

I was once asked to tie some large salt water flies that used a full tail worth of hair per fly... They were rather expensive flies!

 

Cheers,

C.

[Capt Bob LeMay 0]

I buy my deertails in bulk, if possible, and try to use every last bit.... Natural bucktails, after all the nice white hair is gone, I use the center hairs for spreaders on tarpon flies, collars on Cockroach patterns, finally tailing for bonefish and redfish skimmers.

 

Here's a pic or two of flies and lures made using the parts of a bucktail that most toss....

[Goose77 0]

Hey Muskie, obviously all the white/dyed over white is used, but I end up throwing out some of the dark hair on the back. Capt. LeMay is right on about using this dark hair as a spreader for split hackle tailed flies...not only does this split the hackle, but it really helps to prevent tail wrap. I use alot of bucktail, so some dark gets pitched. Cheers, Ed