rabbits snowshoe

[urbanflyman]

blue dun rabbits snowshoe

i bought a pair of these from the G.A.C a few days ago ,and was wondering if any you guys could point me in the right direction for some good patterns to use this material with .(i know its a good dry fly material) ,but was wondering if their is anywhere that shows the best way to prepare and use the fur for tying .

i have my own ideas but I'm sure that their are better tried and tested ways of using this material out their for me to learn from ,,, please help if you can.

[former member 7]

Hi there,

There is anAmerican dry fly pattern called ''The Usual' that is tied using solely
snowshoe rabbit fur. I've a few in my box & theyfloat like corks !!!
Here's a link that might be of help

Usual Dry Fly Tutorial

JC

[A. Fluker]

That is a lovely fly.

Thanks for showing the sbs.

[madjoni]

here is one old with hares ear body and wings from hares shoe...it is regular wild hare,not that american snow one,hair on shoe is bit smaller but it float great just like snowshoe.....



---------- Post added at 01:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 PM ----------

I dont want to provoke some trade member to 'hunt ' me here but there is no need to by snowshoe if you are hunter your self

[North Country Angler]

I find this variant on a Bob Wyatt theme to be exceptionally effective on early season trout and grayling.....



...underside view of above fly:



Matt

[Chris Reeves]

Joni,

You are wrong about the Hare, While ordinary Hare has nice fur, the Snowshoe Hare has insulated feet, (the clue is in the name!) The fur has a totally different quality to ordinary Hare and is much more bouyant so making better dries.
One of the experts on these is Richard Ross who ties thousands of this type of fly.
He has a SBS somewhere which I'll try and find for you. I know he published an article is American Fly fisher a couple of years ago.

Snowshoe is more difficult to work with but it is worth the trouble. A quote from the SBS mentioned by Jungle Cock tells you why

"Snowshoe is a wonderful material with all the qualities of deer hair and CDC and none of their shortcomings. The stuff will float forever without dressing, and if dressed or slimed it will still float. The hair fibers will not bend, crimp or collapse and it takes color well. It can also be dubbed!"
So its not a trade member who hunts you down, just me again!

Cheers

[madjoni]

Originally Posted by Chris Reeves

So its not a trade member who hunts you down, just me again!

Hi sir
I consider You as frendly and person with much more experiance and I have great respect in every word You say.
But , wild hear(Lepus europaeus L.) that lives on snow border ,above 1000 metres,have prety adjusted feet to snow and coldness.
In practise,when one go fishing,there is no diference.

[neil26]

Originally Posted by madjoni

here is one old with hares ear body and wings from hares shoe...it is regular wild hare,not that american snow one,hair on shoe is bit smaller but it float great just like snowshoe.....



---------- Post added at 01:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:41 PM ----------

I dont want to provoke some trade member to 'hunt ' me here but there is no need to by snowshoe if you are hunter your self

hi, how do you preserve those feet?- do you need to skin them and dry as usual ~? i have good success with skinned fur but tails/wings etc seem to take ages to dry

[madjoni]

Originally Posted by neil26

hi, how do you preserve those feet?- do you need to skin them and dry as usual ~? i have good success with skinned fur but tails/wings etc seem to take ages to dry

Hi
you can skin them,it is easier to dye them latter....but I dont do that,just cut them of,remove meat that I see,put some salt and ashes at that end and let them dry for 15-20 days....Shoe never do stink or spoil like other kinds of skin,I dont now why exactly

[t1978d]

Daview McPhail has a good demonstration of the usual on you tube. try spinning it in a loop like CDC, it's great stuff and floats like cork on steroids.