Hi all, cant think which way to start this one so here goes. If there were'nt any feathers how would you tie a fly, how could I tye a Grey Duster an Adams or a Kites Imperial for example. What is available as a substitute to tye these flies alone... let alone any others what could we use.
Cheers Glyn

Some people are allergic to feathers and use hair to form hackles.
For the above flies you could use grey squirell hair spun in a dubbing loop.

__________________
It is in truth not glory,nor riches, nor honours that we are fighting,but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with his life.(Declaration of Arbroath, 1320)

Is'nt a dubbing loop used for a thorax or a body how could the hackle/ upright material to stand up the fly be formed.
Glyn

Well you form your loop and place the hair in the loop at 90 degrees to the thread I would imagine you would use longer stiffer hair than you would normaly use for dubbing aswell.

I don't make flies with names , but a fly I have a lot of success with is made with black cotton for the body, silver wire for the rib & wool from black Wensleydale sheep for the hackle.
(peacock herl for the body is also very effective)

Wensleydale have a longer coat than most sheep & its very soft & workable.

Fresh wool has a lot of lanolin content, this keeps it keep it afloat

......maybe if I was to give the fly a name Bucko's bomber would be appropriate

Paul

The quick answer would be 'whatever'.

The flies you mention are imitative - have a look at the real thing (try the entemology section on this site) and make it up as you go along. Flies tend to catch fishermen as much they catch fish..

Out of interest, why do you want a substitute for feathers?

__________________
Wanted: A polarised monocle.

I dont want too Ive been tying flies with feather for over 40yrs, my question was if we didnt have feathers wot else could we use to copy patterns such as the ones I listed. Even tho these flies Paul B ..er have names they are 3 of the best patterns ever made for trout fishing some of the synthetic stuff just wont look as good as the humble feather in my opinion.
Cheers Glyn