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i know there are many defferent types of materials that can be used to tie dry flies. this includes everything from natural to synthetic. i was curious to see what other people are using. i used to use a lot of cdc. now that i have fished flies like the usual i am a huge fan of rabbits foot.it floats great and it is super easy to tie with. it also comes in many different colors and you can even dyw your own with rit dye.
I like the snowshoe hare too for emergers and small comparaduns.
For spinners, I like this stuff an old friend showed me a long time ago; craft store stuff called organza, its got an amazing shimmering quality
For mayfly duns & emergers, definitely snowshoe rabbit- the Usual baby!! For tough trout on flat water, CDC. For spinners, Hi-Vis is my fav- floats great, you can see it, and it works on big trout.
I also use the Hi-Vis in white and light gray (dun) for my spinners. CDC is great, but hard to tie with; it's difficult to assemble a big bunch even with the Petitjean tools. Snowshoe hair is versatile, but unless you use a big bunch to trap a lot of air, it doesn't float well for very long. I've used the Organza for a while too, based on an A.K. Best article - it's ok for very small spinners, like the Needhami on the Farmington. Organza does shimmer, but it's a bit too rigid for some applications. It is very inexpensive at fabric stores. A 1/4 square yard will last a lifetime. I've never had much luck with hackle tips, the cape never seems to have one in the proper size.
There is really only one wing material for me, thanks to Caucci and Nastasi... coastal deer or Compara-hair. Once you learn the proper tying methods with deer, and see the results onstream, I think you will agree. I don't like the bleached variety so much, but the natural (fine black tips) is deadly.
Hope this is helpful.
The trouble with this post I agree with all you guys, if I had to limit myself to one it would be Snowshoe.
John
I use it for 100 percent of my dries with the exception of spinners.
Yeah, the Rabit's Foot can be used also for Caddis wings & Midges. For small flies, use mostly the softer underfur and trim it to length after you tie the fly.
I like Hi-Vis, CDC and Snowshoe.
Hi-Vis for parachutes. CDC and snowshoe for everything else. I am also a Z-lon junkie. I try to incorporate it into many of my patterns whether it be a shuck, wrapped as a body or sometimes a wing material.
Z-Lon is great stuff- trailing shucks & Serendipities!
[quote author=emerger link=topic=245.msg10495#msg10495 date=1206921165]
I like Hi-Vis, CDC and Snowshoe.
Hi-Vis for parachutes. CDC and snowshoe for everything else. I am also a Z-lon junkie. I try to incorporate it into many of my patterns whether it be a shuck, wrapped as a body or sometimes a wing material.
[/quote]
Same Here.