Tails – deer hair tails

 

AKA: Deer hair tails

In most cases if deer hair is being used as a dry fly tail the butt ends of the deer hair are generally incorporated as an under body for the fly as detailed below.

Process

A
  1. Move the thread to exactly the position where the deer hair tail is to be tied in.
  2. Select the required amount of deer hair fibres and stack them in a deer hair stacker so that the tips are aligned.

B
  1. Remove the deer hair from the stacker with your left hand and then transfer the grip to your right hand.
  2. Hold the deer hair fibres to be tied against the hook with your right hand to check the length.

C
  1. Once you are satisfied with the position of the deer hair without moving the deer hair take hold of them firmly with the thumb and forefinger of your left hand against the top of the shank of the hook at the tie in position.

D
  1. Without releasing your left hand grip on the deer hair fibres and the hook shank take the bobbin up with your right hand and use the fly tiers pinch to secure the hackle into position.

E
  1. Hold the tail above but along the top of the hook as you wind the thread toward the tail. This will keep the deer hair fibres sitting right on top of the hook shank.
  2. Take tight wraps of the thread as it will be necessary to take a couple of looser wraps of thread right at the bend of the hook to avoid the deer hair flaring out too much.
  3. Avoid tight wraps of thread around the deer hair tail as you approach the bend of the hook because tight wraps of thread will cause the hair tail to flare out too much.

F
  1. Trim the butt ends of the deer hair fibres in front of the tie in position by holding the butt end of the deer hair fibres vertical and trim them off horizontal with scissors.
  2. By trimming the excess off horizontally you are left with a gradient rather than a ridge.



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