Deer Hair Patches

[Harpo]

Hi folks,

I was in the Orvis Shop (la di da!) in the 'burgh today checking out the fly tieing stuff, saw Deer's Hair patches, 3 different types from different parts of the beast, Head, Body or neck I think it was.

What type should I be buying for tieing DHE's, Baloon Caddis etc?

Never bothered buying the ?2K wooden canoe they have in there, which you can fly cast from (apparently!)

Thanks

Stuart

[scotty9]

Can anyone tell me the different properties of different deer hair types?

[Harpo]

Thanks Bri, i'll get some next time i'm passing!

[deergravy]

Can anyone tell me the different properties of different deer hair types?

The three properties are: thickness, crinklyness and colour.
If you can get a look at some patches before you buy them, just buy the ones you like the look of. Between the different species, summer/winter coats and different bits of the animal, I can't keep up and just go for whatever seems right.
Mind you, I've got acres of the stuff to choose from!

So, Wapsi short and fine is perfect for DHEs and small sedgehogs.
So is Veniards Roe deer, though it varies in coarseness
Sika deer is dark and a bit wiry.Makes some nice sedgehogs and dhs's.

Be prepared to be driven mental by this - I'm forever buying deerhair patches in search of the holy grail.
Dave

[Wildfisher]

Cookshill sell  the best coastal deer hair patches I have seen.

[Fishtales]

Can anyone tell me the different properties of different deer hair types?

Have a read at this, Scott, it might help.

http://blog.riverwoodfliesonline.com/?page_id=77

[scotty9]

Thanks guys, clears things up a bit!  :lol: Seems like a bit of trial and error is needed, in saying that i'm using just a standard wapsi patch from GAC and some of the Fachans and notice no problems so far. Could be bleeding obvious problems and i just don't know about it! 

[deergravy]

Nice to see you getting straight into deerhair so early in your fly-tying career.
Good move!
Probably the hardest material there is to tie with, if you can get to grips with it everything else will be a pish-case.
And, besides, it's indispensable.

One other thing, always look for the patch with the straightest hair. Curved deerhair is next to useless, apart from muddlers/spinning techniques.

[scotfly]

Another useful article to look at.... http://www.flyfishingconnection.com/articles/current/151/A+Hairs+Difference+-+A+guide+to+tying+flies+with+hair/

[scotty9]

Nice to see you getting straight into deerhair so early in your fly-tying career.
Good move!
Probably the hardest material there is to tie with, if you can get to grips with it everything else will be a pish-case.
And, besides, it's indispensable.

One other thing, always look for the patch with the straightest hair. Curved deerhair is next to useless, apart from muddlers/spinning techniques.

Well Dave every fly i've tied so far has deer hair on it :shock:

I find that if it doesn't work first time all i have to do is conjure up a mirage of swear words and it seems to do the trick :lol:

Thanks for that Scotfly!