xvigauge 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flicted 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Find a polar bear rug and you're in business. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flytire 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Bucktail Artic fox Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaydub 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Kid Goat Skunk Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rscconrad 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Take a trip to Canada. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Find a polar bear rug and you're in business. I had to go look ... found one for $22,000.00. Yes ... that's twenty two THOUSAND dollars. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flicted 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Scratch that last idea. Use buck tail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyty1 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 Take a trip to Canada. Don't get caught with illegal fur or feathers - the penalties can be very stiff. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted April 8, 2019 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
johnnyquahog 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
redietz 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 Skunk is a good substitute. Bucktail doesn't have the same translucence. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fishfrnzy2 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 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, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mark Knapp 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 Mountain goat? I have a lot of that I could share. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nsheehan 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 Kid goat is good sttuff long straight and a little yellow tint Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DFoster 0 Report post Posted April 9, 2019 Find a polar bear rug and you're in business. I had to go look ... found one for $22,000.00. Yes ... that's twenty two THOUSAND dollars. Gulp! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
