choosing elk hair

KeithS

KeithS

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Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
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What should I look for and how much is too much to pay ?
I know to look for a piece with no underfur and I think I read somewhere about the tips being very defined. Does it make a difference if it's ,supposedly, from a yearling or is adult elk hair the same ?
Also,some places want $4.50 for a patch and others want $9.00.
 
http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/how-to/blue_ribbon_hair_definitions
 
Great article posted by Rolf ^

Here is a good article I ran across a while back written by Charlie Craven on the characteristics and choosing hair for fly tying :

http://midcurrent.com/flies/fly-tying-hair-selection/

Two things about buying hair:

First, I recommend that you see, touch and feel before you buy, therefore I would not buy on-line. Check it out at a shop, if possible.

Second, I label (write with a permanent marker) every piece of hide as to the suitability of the hair for tying - "Spinning", "Comparadun", etc.
 
Hi Keith,

There's one place that I would trust completely to buy hair from over the phone.

Chris Helm of Whitetail Fly Tying Supplies.

http://www.whitetailflytieing.com/

If you call Chris and tell him the pattern and size of the flies you plan on tying, he'll pick out the perfect piece of hide for your application. He's already put me on speaker phone and tied a sample fly to make sure the hair was just right.

Chris is world famous for being one of the foremost authorities on deer and elk hair, and he's a super nice guy to deal with. IMO, best of the best.

 
Wow, H-A, that's a whole lot of attention for a small piece of hide.
 
Heritage-Angler wrote:
Hi Keith,

There's one place that I would trust completely to buy hair from over the phone.

Chris Helm of Whitetail Fly Tying Supplies.

http://www.whitetailflytieing.com/

If you call Chris and tell him the pattern and size of the flies you plan on tying, he'll pick out the perfect piece of hide for your application. He's already put me on speaker phone and tied a sample fly to make sure the hair was just right.

Chris is world famous for being one of the foremost authorities on deer and elk hair, and he's a super nice guy to deal with. IMO, best of the best.

I agree with Ed.
Chris is one of the most knowledgeable people on animal hair. Just tell him the fly you are tying and the size and he will send you a top quality piece of hair.
Bill
 
May want to try coastal deer hair, my favorite, especially dyed dun gray. Great for small caddis.
 
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