TheCream 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 I have been on a Bow River Bugger kick lately, it's a pattern I plan to fish a lot this coming season. I was rummaging through my deer hair bins and found a patch I have had for a while that was a body (not belly) patch in a burnt orange coloration. I instantly thought crawfish color combo on a Bow River Bugger. I quickly found out why I never used that patch...the hair was so oily and slick you literally cannot hang onto it. I stack it in the stacker, get it in my hands, go to lash it down and the hair slides and shimmy's around and can't be controlled. 80% of the hair would end up falling to the floor. On a hunch, I thought why not clean it with shampoo? Maybe that would knock the oily nature of it down. I used some hotel sample shampoo I stole from who knows where, washed it well in the sink with that, and dried it back out. It worked surprisingly well. It's still a bit slick, but it's manageable. So if you get a patch of deer hair that has slick hair, scrub it with shampoo. Might save you from pitching a patch of usable hair. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Meeshka 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 Nice Bugger and save with the shampoo! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cold 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 Good stuff! I guess this also answers the question of what to do if your deer hair has dandruff... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dubs 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 Blue dawn dish soap works well for me cleaning hide before preserving Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mikechell 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 I really like that bugger/deer hair headed fly. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fletchfishes 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 nice tip, thanks. Also loving the look of that fly... is it basically a crystal bugger with a couple rubber legs thrown on and a Muddler head? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted March 9, 2016 nice tip, thanks. Also loving the look of that fly... is it basically a crystal bugger with a couple rubber legs thrown on and a Muddler head? Conehead Bow River Bugger. Essentially a bugger with rubber legs, cone and deer hair on the head. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2016 Also like the look of that. Are you making a 360deg collar of hair or is it shaped to provide a swim direction? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trevinski 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2016 Very nice! Super clean trim job on that. Are you just using a razor blade? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted March 10, 2016 Yes, 360 degree deer hair head/collar, yes razor blade. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayWirth 0 Report post Posted March 11, 2016 This happens sometimes with deer tails. I make sure there is no fat left on skin and scrape it off if there is; wash in warm water with dish soap, set outside in the sun to dry (anywhere really is fine) - good as new. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
nittro 0 Report post Posted April 5, 2016 Great fly! This is one I will add to my son's arsenal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldboyjim42 0 Report post Posted April 5, 2016 Great tip, ... do you ever attempt to lubricate an old dry bucktail (or other item) with hotel conditioner? ... ie .. when they are so dry they do not spin well? thanks Jim S neubie Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCream 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2016 Great tip, ... do you ever attempt to lubricate an old dry bucktail (or other item) with hotel conditioner? ... ie .. when they are so dry they do not spin well? thanks Jim S neubie I don't spin deer hair, I always stack it, so I'd never want it slicker and harder to control. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Henrik Thomsen (DK) 0 Report post Posted April 6, 2016 As always. Wash all natural materials to remove fat and other unwanted things like dust from feathers (birds do dust bath). Also wash all dyed materials. Better to get excess dye out in the sink, than on your fingers. And if the material bleach too much, better it is before tying... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites