It's been a long winter here in eastern Canada and I've spent too much time watching RUclips videos on fly fishing, yet I feel like I've never wasted a second while watching any of Kelly's great offerings. Thanks so much for doing these!
I've been tying flies for 30+ years and this by far, has been the best explanation on hair I've ever seen or heard. Sharpen the pencil, I will be calling an order in very soon. Do you offer bulk discounts?
Ed- Glad you enjoyed the video. We don't offer bulk discounts, but we have free shipping on all domestic orders over $50.00 through Christmas. -- Kelly
On the Elk hair, where I've seen it become popular here in British Isles now, in a number of colors, not a lot of colors. Is in saltwater fly tying. I know that streamer fishing, as Kelly's tutorials demonstrate, act act as it's own standalone competency, within the trout fly fishing spectrum. One can take streamers, to a fairly high level, as Kelly will frequently demonstrate. Salt water, is less mature at this moment than streamer fly fishing. But, a lot of what Kelly discusses in the demo's, you'll find crop up in a world of saltwater as well. I've a couple of skins, in a darkish green, and I think in a jet black of the Elk, obtained from one of the saltwater fly tying stores - and I concur, that where I use it - is for larger may flies, parachutes. He's right too, Elk's a tough material. Hence why the saltwater guys picked up on it so fast - they need vibrant saltwater flash, color - and durability too.
There are a few patterns, mixed in between the CDC, hackle dry patterns etc, in real small sizes on rivers, that are sub-size 14, even sub-size 16, in the deer hair dry fly category - that are just indispensable to have. Even in a timber fly box, with mostly CDC and hackle dries - a single 'row' of small deer hairs, can alter the playing field a bit - especially when one is out of ideas. The small patch of coastal compara dun - that is, you won't have bags of it ever - but just one small patch of it, is worth it's place in any good fly tyer's cabinet. Even just a natural color, without going into any special colors. These small deer hairs can be game changers.
One last thing, on the Deer. The reason, unlike Elk, that white tailed deer of the Compara Dun small packet variety is great for small dries - not like the Elk, the deer isn't as robust. But in terms of small dries, where you don't have a lot of 'material' of any description on the small dry fly - the quality of the Deer that goes on that wing - precisely, when it is a bit more fragile, and bit lighter, more hollow, more float-able, is good. You'll trade off durability for sure - like, I frequently have to 'swap' out that entire row of small deer hair dries - from my box. As they don't put up a huge battle against teeth of fish etc. But in return for trade-off of durability, you get a great floating pattern, in a small size. I've found that small coastal deer patches from America, are hollow enough, down to the last quarter inch - that you can create these tiny dry patterns from it - and make great fish catching patterns.
Put it another way. I've a dozen or so, very well made patterns of Simulator dry flies in quite small size - that were dressed by a professional tyer. They're incredibly well made, designed, proportioned flies - and they should catch a lot. The emphasis being, on 'should'. The hackle quality, with the quality and color of the deer hair used to dress these Simulator patterns is top drawer quality. They did everything right. However, I'm of the opinion that their deer hair or whatever they used on these Simulators - is just a little bit too good in quality - it's too durable. I'd trade away some of that durability any day, for more lightness in the pattern, and perhaps get down another size, using shorter, hollow, less tough coastal deer hair.
Often, on rivers, you change down a size and it makes difference between empty bag, or catching one or two. Especially with trout, that take dries. I'd compare it to airplane luggage. Sometimes, what they do is they trade away from robustness in the luggage, to reduce the number of kilograms or pounds of weight, so that you can pack in an extra suit or pair of shoes for a journey. I'd say the same, when it comes to Deer hair selection. Maybe the 'hard shell' airplane luggage, isn't the way to go. Especially, if you keep it down to one simple deer hair pattern, in a very small size, and just keep one row of that pattern stocked in one's fly box, as a change from usual CDC or hackle dries. On the other hand, saltwater fishers do crave after robustness, because in that environment (as distinct from the small dry fly river stretch), in saltwater, robustness counts for a lot.
what kind of deer hair would you use on a yellow humpy? I'm new at tying and unsure. I know not to use belly hair in viewing your video. Thanks for sharing this.
Is there a hair in a broad range of colors that I can use for caddis wings but also for spinning for say some bead head muddler minnows ? I dont mind having some waste but would like to find a hair that had color selections that suits both applications ?? Thanks
Awesome information Kelly. I'm new to fly tying and this helps out a lot, but I do have a question, what is the best way to store Deer, Elk, and Moose hairs, should they stay in the plastic bags or can I store them out of the bags? Will they become brittle over time?
Hey Kelly, great video. 1 question though. Why is belly hair "hard" tanned and the rest is "soft" tanned? I.E. belly hair skin twisted and the other nice and flat and flexible.
You can indeed. Here is the link to the deer hair section. Let us know if you need help with anything else as well! www.slideinn.com/store/fly-tying/hair-and-fur/
Good Lord, I waited the entire video to maybe learn something about the bottom row of the board which seems to be Bucktail. I do not understand why you did not speak on the bottom row on the board
Sounds like you were looking for this video instead... ruclips.net/video/fQ8ZRqBqyt4/видео.html Let us know if you have any other questions on the subject!
OMG, I’m drunk and my head is spinning listening to this guy. It’s pretty simple- You use hollow hair for spinning such as in bodies and bullet heads and you use small thin hair (not hollow) for wings because you want to control the flaring. Coastal deer will have shorter and thin hair because of the climate they live in ( not as cold). Whitetail will have coarser, long and hollow hair because they live in colder climates. End of story. You’re welcome.
Charlie, bucktail is basically a wing material for streamers, I was talking about short dry wings and spinning hair, neither of which are done with BT, maybe I can get one in there this spring about Bucktail. Thanks , Kelly
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Kelly is a legend. These videos that he puts out are comparable to a seasoned tradesman teaching an apprentice. Thank you!
It's been a long winter here in eastern Canada and I've spent too much time watching RUclips videos on fly fishing, yet I feel like I've never wasted a second while watching any of Kelly's great offerings. Thanks so much for doing these!
Great video as always Kelly! Thanks for clearing up the Elk Hair Caddis wing issue, thats exactly what I was looking for.
I've been tying flies for 30+ years and this by far, has been the best explanation on hair I've ever seen or heard. Sharpen the pencil, I will be calling an order in very soon. Do you offer bulk discounts?
Ed-
Glad you enjoyed the video. We don't offer bulk discounts, but we have free shipping on all domestic orders over $50.00 through Christmas. -- Kelly
Good job Kelly. Great video on deer hair.
played me a bit of compara-cow when I was in my early 20s. Ah good ol BYU....
On the Elk hair, where I've seen it become popular here in British Isles now, in a number of colors, not a lot of colors. Is in saltwater fly tying. I know that streamer fishing, as Kelly's tutorials demonstrate, act act as it's own standalone competency, within the trout fly fishing spectrum. One can take streamers, to a fairly high level, as Kelly will frequently demonstrate. Salt water, is less mature at this moment than streamer fly fishing. But, a lot of what Kelly discusses in the demo's, you'll find crop up in a world of saltwater as well. I've a couple of skins, in a darkish green, and I think in a jet black of the Elk, obtained from one of the saltwater fly tying stores - and I concur, that where I use it - is for larger may flies, parachutes. He's right too, Elk's a tough material. Hence why the saltwater guys picked up on it so fast - they need vibrant saltwater flash, color - and durability too.
Excellent video Kelly.
Genetic White Deer is needed for fly tying. We need a Whitting for deer hair :)
What to do with hair that has a curl or is not strait shafted on the skin is it lesser quality than strait or more difficult to work with ?
There are a few patterns, mixed in between the CDC, hackle dry patterns etc, in real small sizes on rivers, that are sub-size 14, even sub-size 16, in the deer hair dry fly category - that are just indispensable to have. Even in a timber fly box, with mostly CDC and hackle dries - a single 'row' of small deer hairs, can alter the playing field a bit - especially when one is out of ideas. The small patch of coastal compara dun - that is, you won't have bags of it ever - but just one small patch of it, is worth it's place in any good fly tyer's cabinet. Even just a natural color, without going into any special colors. These small deer hairs can be game changers.
I've been ordering hair from TCO FLY SHOP and tactical fly fisher but getting good hair is hit or miss
One last thing, on the Deer. The reason, unlike Elk, that white tailed deer of the Compara Dun small packet variety is great for small dries - not like the Elk, the deer isn't as robust. But in terms of small dries, where you don't have a lot of 'material' of any description on the small dry fly - the quality of the Deer that goes on that wing - precisely, when it is a bit more fragile, and bit lighter, more hollow, more float-able, is good. You'll trade off durability for sure - like, I frequently have to 'swap' out that entire row of small deer hair dries - from my box. As they don't put up a huge battle against teeth of fish etc. But in return for trade-off of durability, you get a great floating pattern, in a small size. I've found that small coastal deer patches from America, are hollow enough, down to the last quarter inch - that you can create these tiny dry patterns from it - and make great fish catching patterns.
Put it another way. I've a dozen or so, very well made patterns of Simulator dry flies in quite small size - that were dressed by a professional tyer. They're incredibly well made, designed, proportioned flies - and they should catch a lot. The emphasis being, on 'should'. The hackle quality, with the quality and color of the deer hair used to dress these Simulator patterns is top drawer quality. They did everything right. However, I'm of the opinion that their deer hair or whatever they used on these Simulators - is just a little bit too good in quality - it's too durable. I'd trade away some of that durability any day, for more lightness in the pattern, and perhaps get down another size, using shorter, hollow, less tough coastal deer hair.
Often, on rivers, you change down a size and it makes difference between empty bag, or catching one or two. Especially with trout, that take dries. I'd compare it to airplane luggage. Sometimes, what they do is they trade away from robustness in the luggage, to reduce the number of kilograms or pounds of weight, so that you can pack in an extra suit or pair of shoes for a journey. I'd say the same, when it comes to Deer hair selection. Maybe the 'hard shell' airplane luggage, isn't the way to go. Especially, if you keep it down to one simple deer hair pattern, in a very small size, and just keep one row of that pattern stocked in one's fly box, as a change from usual CDC or hackle dries. On the other hand, saltwater fishers do crave after robustness, because in that environment (as distinct from the small dry fly river stretch), in saltwater, robustness counts for a lot.
👍🏻👍🏻
what kind of deer hair would you use on a yellow humpy? I'm new at tying and unsure. I know not to use belly hair in viewing your video. Thanks for sharing this.
I would use stimulator hair or compara cow elk. KG
Can we call an order from your shop?
Is there a hair in a broad range of colors that I can use for caddis wings but also for spinning for say some bead head muddler minnows ? I dont mind having some waste but would like to find a hair that had color selections that suits both applications ?? Thanks
But can I make nice heads with primo. I don't really spin my hair.
Absolutely
So mr.kelly if I called the slide in flyshop and wanted a light olive colored hair for tying sparkle duns it would be hand picked then mailed to me ??
that is correct!
Awesome information Kelly. I'm new to fly tying and this helps out a lot, but I do have a question, what is the best way to store Deer, Elk, and Moose hairs, should they stay in the plastic bags or can I store them out of the bags? Will they become brittle over time?
The difference between whitetail deer and mule deer?
Hey Kelly, great video. 1 question though. Why is belly hair "hard" tanned and the rest is "soft" tanned? I.E. belly hair skin twisted and the other nice and flat and flexible.
How come you do not tie foam flies?
I love you program.
No particular reason, just don't find it to be interesting. Wood vs plastic kinda thing, but I do fish a lot of foam hoppers? KG
Kelly can I order stuff from your store
You can indeed. Here is the link to the deer hair section. Let us know if you need help with anything else as well!
www.slideinn.com/store/fly-tying/hair-and-fur/
Sur info!
Good Lord, I waited the entire video to maybe learn something about the bottom row of the board which seems to be Bucktail. I do not understand why you did not speak on the bottom row on the board
Sounds like you were looking for this video instead... ruclips.net/video/fQ8ZRqBqyt4/видео.html
Let us know if you have any other questions on the subject!
OMG, I’m drunk and my head is spinning listening to this guy.
It’s pretty simple- You use hollow hair for spinning such as in bodies and bullet heads and you use small thin hair (not hollow) for wings because you want to control the flaring.
Coastal deer will have shorter and thin hair because of the climate they live in ( not as cold).
Whitetail will have coarser, long and hollow hair because they live in colder climates.
End of story.
You’re welcome.
You didn't cover the bucktail!!!! That is what I was watching for. Disappointed.
Charlie, bucktail is basically a wing material for streamers, I was talking about short dry wings and spinning hair, neither of which are done with BT, maybe I can get one in there this spring about Bucktail. Thanks , Kelly