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Polar Bear Hair

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I know it is no longer available, but when I was a kid at 14 and started tying flies (I am 68 now), it was legal to buy and use polar bear hair. A few of the mail order fly tying supply shops carried it and sold it. I have read the calf tail is a good substitute but it lacks the yellowish sheen that sets polar bear hair apart. Anyone know of another substitute material?

Joe

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Find a polar bear rug and you're in business.

laugh.png I had to go look ... found one for $22,000.00. Yes ... that's twenty two THOUSAND dollars. ohmy.png

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Take a trip to Canada.

Don't get caught with illegal fur or feathers - the penalties can be very stiff.

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Take a trip to Canada.

Don't get caught with illegal fur or feathers - the penalties can be very stiff.

 

We all know this. Please, let's not devolve this thread into another "debate" on endangered species.

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Saltwater guys sometimes substitute yak for pb. If you are thinking kip tail though then I’m guessing you don’t need length. Pb is typically priced by length * square inch.

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Agree with Redietz above. Skunk is the closest natural material I have seen. The texture is similar and the shape of the hair appears to be triangular(have not checked under microscope but have tied a few flies with each in years past.) The fly shop I worked at 40 years ago carried PB that was legal at that time but most of what was available was crappy quality with broken tips and pretty yellowed, FWIW,

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Find a polar bear rug and you're in business.

laugh.png I had to go look ... found one for $22,000.00. Yes ... that's twenty two THOUSAND dollars. ohmy.png

 

Gulp!

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