Natural Raffia

[ibrown]

Can anyone tell me of an SBS that uses natural Raffia in the design.
Thanks
Ian

[TAFFTASTIC]

Dont quote me Ian but i think they also call it Swiss Straw

TT

[sweenytodd]

Have a look here >>>> My Two top mays this year

Second fly down , its a killer

[arkle]

"Swiss straw" is the American name for Raffene, which is a man-made version of natural raffia.

[ibrown]

Nice flies Danny, any chance of an SBS for them.
Regards
Ian

[vgb]

Dave Wiltshire uses some coloured straw:

River Fly Box, Tying Czech Nymphs, Shrimps, Gammarus

regards

Vince

[noeyedeer]

Stan Headly's Wet Daddy - used for the body

[cax]

You can buy Raffia in good garden centres, some gardeners use it for tying up plants. Just as good and a fraction of the price in a tackle shop.

[mayflyjunky]

The whole secret in using raffia is to split the width to the amount you require to cover the body (say the width of a medium tinsel), tying in at the head, then just like any ordinary tinsel body take it down as far as you want then back up. But always, always, keep the raffia moist as you wrap it.

Because of the bigger trout on Sheelin I prefer to use kamasan 175 hooks and another alternative is to use cdc oil on the raffia instead of saliva or water. I think it helps to keep the fly up after a fish or two. Certainly can't/doesn't do any harm.

[sweenytodd]

Originally Posted by ibrown

Nice flies Danny, any chance of an SBS for them.
Regards
Ian

Sorry not from me as I didn't tie them