Materials

[Donegali]

I have decided to give fly tying a go after speaking to the guys on the Timsbury meet. I am therefore completely new to this.

I have a couple of friends who go shooting so I have asked for any feathers or fur when they pluck/skin them. I have some pheasant feathers, some rabbit skin and some jay feathers coming. Are there any particular types of feathers/fur to use? ie tail feathers, rabbit head fur, that sort of thing? Would grouse or any other types be of any use?

[arkle]

Virtually all native game birds have some use, take a look at www.cookshill-flytying.co.uk to get some ideas, Steve Cooper who runs it is also a member of this forum & organizer of the British Fly Fair International. His quality, prices & service are second to none.

[A. Fluker]

Originally Posted by Donegali

I have some pheasant feathers, some rabbit skin and some jay feathers coming. Are there any particular types of feathers/fur to use? ie tail feathers, rabbit head fur, that sort of thing? Would grouse or any other types be of any use?

Best of luck in having a go at flytying - you will be embarking on a long journey. But the journey is a lot of fun.

[stevekale]

A long, expensive and incredibly addictive journey. But there's nothing like answering that question of "what did it take?" with "a little xxxx I tie myself"

[arkle]

The trouble with this fly tying lark is once you've had the satisfaction of catching your first fish on a fly you've tied yourself, then it's like an incurable disease that you get addicted to.

[hellbound1]

you have started on the long road of flytying ,

what ever you get from ur mates can be used , just make shore the skins / feathers make shore you dry them out poped in the deep frezze for a few weeks , then zaped in a microwave for a few secs, this will kill off the bugs that live in the fur ect ,

lookin at the SbS as well will help you get an idear of whats more used , hope this helps a bit more

[Donegali]

Thanks for the advice everyone. Hopefully I'll post a few of my creations for you all to mull over!