getholdofjoru 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2005 I am tying up hopper patterns for the upcoming year and have been looking at using a madame x for this purpose. One problem I am finding is that I cannot keep it afloat. I have put just about as much deer hair on it as I can and am using foam legs. My question to the illustrious forum follows: Should I be using an alternative to deer tail hair? Should I be using deer body hair? And, is this pattern just used with floatant because it generally sinks? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyweaver 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2005 You ned to use deer hair not tail.Tail doesn't float body hair does.Try spraying with a waterproofer after tying.Then use ginks or something similar when fishing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flyweaver 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2005 Try using body hair not tail,body hair floats,bucktail doesn't.After tying spray with a waterproofer. Use a floatant like ginks or something similar when fishing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
getholdofjoru 0 Report post Posted February 18, 2005 Thanks for the info fly weaver. I guess I'll go get some deer body hair patches. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Peddler 0 Report post Posted February 19, 2005 Try using those sinking X's on bream and bass... killer with a slow strip! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted February 19, 2005 Yeah, body hair's the ticket. A little floatant couldn't hurt too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
getholdofjoru 0 Report post Posted February 19, 2005 Peddler I've got a few that do sink, I think I'll try one of these this weekend on some bass water. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Irish 0 Report post Posted February 19, 2005 The deer body hair should do the trick. If not then use some 2 mm closed cell foam from Walmart to under wrap the body just don't bind it down and completely cover it with thread. Irish Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alex C. 0 Report post Posted February 19, 2005 Don't know if this helps or not but somewhere I saw that Elk body hair floats better than deer body hair Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mad Scientist 0 Report post Posted February 20, 2005 Go to: Doug Swisher Madam X. Doug has photo step by step sequence tying instructions and material list to use in the original Madam X. The Hair is Cow Elk, which is far superior in floating than Bull Elk (blonde) and "thicker" than normal whitetail or mule deer and I think is more durable. Cow Elk has basically the same colorations as whitetail deer. I hope this helps. Mad Scientist Fly Tyers Dungeon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites