Thursday, August 6, 2020

Deer Hair Flies

I have been tying some flies with the primary material being deer hair. These flies have been effective in the times I have called on them. This time of year they represent many types of bugs that are about, and especially on small streams. Just the other day while fishing my fly got snagged in a small bush along the stream. As I walked to retrieve it a rather large wasp landed on the fly. It was reluctant to give up the artificial but realized it was not what it appeared to be. Large grasshoppers, moths and other insects fall into the stream and hungry brook trout don't miss them.



Deer hair flies that I tie are usually on #12 hooks, but I have a couple of them in 10's and 14's....Deer hair comes in various colors but I use only a few.


The bodies are usually dubbed, with a fine wire rib. Tinsel bodies also work.


I ties some with rather large heads and wings.


Sparsely tied wings also are used. How many of you have tried deer hair flies? And how effective have they been for you?








19 comments:

  1. Alan,
    As with all your other "works", your deer hair creations are stunning! I don't know how you do it! A God given talent for sure! I like the Stewart's Black Spider below! I have found them super effective in most situations!
    Doug

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dougsden
      Thanks
      Doug the Stewart spider is not used often enough by me, and I don't know why. It may be because it gets lost in my fly box.

      Delete
  2. I used to tie small deer hair bass bugs for Small Mouth on a river near my home before we moved. Great fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. billp
      Thanks
      Bill deer hair can turn on the creative style in fly tyers. In most situations the flies will get results.

      Delete
  3. Good Morning Alan, When nothing is visibly hatching my go to dry has been the Elk Hair Caddis for the same reasons you state above. Rather than Elk I prefer to tie them with comparadun Deer hair. Countless variations can be created by simply changing the color of the dubbing, ribbing and/or hackle. More than once I've had dragon flies attempt to fly off with them as they dangled from the end of the rod tip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dean F
      Thanks
      Dean how does the comparadun hair work? Ihave never tried it. Your points as to the many variations makes deer hair very attractive, and it's cheap.

      Delete
    2. It's ties nice and splays out when you pull, super easy to stack as long as you brush out the fluff first.

      Delete
  4. I have tied some Muddlers and Letort Crickets and tried the comparaduns many years ago but deer hair is not one of my strengths, but they do catch trout. The Letort Cricket is deadly in the summer on PA limestones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. NJpatbee
      Thanks
      Pat I have problems with deer hair. Most times the donkey flies will work just fine. Agreed on the Letort cricket.

      Delete
  5. I've tied a few, but mostly red, yellow, blue, and white/brown. Been so long, can't even remember the fly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark colored deer hair is perfect for these flies. I don't know if you remember the blogger Jim Albright. He fished almost entirely deer hair flies. Multi colored deer hair included.

      Delete
  6. Deer hair isn't my strong suite and I need to do better with it. When I do fish it I usually tie Haystacks or some other untidy pattern that will hide my faults. I know the fish don't care about my tying abilities, but I do.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Look to the Better's...his flies were very much the same. But he realized a lot sooner then you or I that the trout do not care. Some of Lee Wulff's flies were the same.

      Delete
  7. Alan,
    Very good work, I really like those delicate and conical dubbing bodies.
    In the streams of Pampa de Achala that type of flies with deer hair work very well, I use them frequently.
    The Bamboo in the scenery is perfect!

    Humberto

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Humberto deer hair seems to be liked as a fly material in many parts of the world. Bamboo and some brookies flies just seem to go well together.

      Delete
  8. Alan, They look a little like Muddler Minnows in concept but a muddler that has seen lots of use and become sparse and even more effective. The are a treat to use in a big wave on a reservoir with a floating line and short leader. Quite heart stopping at times! Must stop playing and get on with the 50th wedding anniversary celebrations now! All the best, John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Two Terriers
      Thanks
      John first off congrats on your 50th. We celebrated ours last November.

      The flies are close to Muddlers. Very effective flies at times.

      Delete
  9. Alan, Thank you but I have to say I don't know where the time has gone but then we all say that! Roasting hot and humid here today, even the USAF isn't flying, we're promised some big storms this week so that will freshen some of the ponds and waterways up. All the best. John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Two Terriers
      Thanks
      John 50 years go so fast when we actually it that number. I guess readiness takes a break from the heat. A few days of rain is now required, seems everything is turning to straw.

      Delete