Deer hair – spun bodies

 

It doesn't matter if the spun deer hair body you are making is on a size # 2/0 Dahlberg Diver or a size # 12 Adams Irresistible the method of building the body is the same.

The method for building a spun deer hair body for a right handed fly tier is set out below. If your left handed please remember to switch the directions around.

Process

A
  1. Because the body of this fly is spun deer hair you have to leave as much as possible of the hook shank free of thread.
  2. Start the fly by taking two or three turns of thread at the bend of the hook..

B
  1. Tie in a tail equal to about 3/4 of the length of the hook shank of  5 or 6 hackle fibres or moose hair.
  2. You should not need it but its good insurance to put a drop of head cement on the spot where the tail is tied in.

C
  1. Clip a bunch of deer hair about twice as long as the gape of the hook or wider if a wide body is ultimately required.
  2. Hold the bunch of deer hair, with half inside your fingers and half exposed outside your fingers, at the tie in position firmly with your left hand.

D
  1. Take two loose wraps of thread around the deer hair.

E
  1. If you now pull down of the thread firmly the deer hair will flare out around the shank of the hook.

F
  1. Without releasing any pressure on the thread stroke the deer hair back with your left hand and take one or two firm wraps of thread in front of the first clump of deer hair.

G
  1. Use your finger nails, the end of a pen or a similar tool to force the deer hair back as tight as possible.
  2. Now repeat the five steps C,D,E,F and G as many times as is required to  cover that part of the hook shank that is to covered with spun, stacked and trimmed deer hair.

H
  1. Take the thread forward of the spun and stacked deer hair and take a couple of double hitches of thread on the hook shank so as to ensure that nothing comes undone whilst you carry out the next step.

I
  1. With a sharp pair of scissors or a blade trim the deer hair to the required shape.



Last Updated: December 31, 2010
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Categories: Free fly tying