Favorite Nymph Tails

[AaronJasper]

I usually use hen for the tails on most of my nymphs. However, today I pulled out all the stops and used Coq De Leon for the tails on my small nymphs. What a great material. Its extremely durable. I was actually commenting to Davy on how good it was and all the other fly tails that it can be uses for. Its also barred, which is a good thing in my opinion. He also told me that he has some good stuff as well.

What materials do you guys use for tails? You might want to give the coq de leon a go. I have using mallard because it gets chewed off after a few fish. This stuff seems very tough and will withstand some trout chewing on it.

[SaboVT]

This is kind of funny, I just went to a fly tying demo tonight by a local central pa guide, Lance Wilt. He was using Coq de Leon as tailing on all his mayfly nymph patterns, he even used it as an over wing for a CDC caddis pattern. His primary reason for using it....durability. I just ordered up some in light pardo.

[AaronJasper]

SaboVt,

Very funny... where are you fishing this weekend? I wish I could have gone to Penns Creek today. I will be on BFC on Saturday.

[SaboVT]

Aaron, I think we all wish we were on Penns today, unfortunately even when living in central pa, work still gets in the way, spring forward is only a few weeks away though, which opens up some more opportunities for myself. Right now I'm planning on heading to LittleJ, but who knows, weather is looking great for the weekend, hopefully we'll get a good amount of rain Friday.

[Davyfly]

I used to use CDL a great deal in the past, there is no other material like it.
Absolutely the best is from select breeders in Spain, very hard to get to day, more so of all the variations in color.
The CDL sold here from the Whiting stable is ok, but not as good as from the original source.

This is a unique feather in many ways, and was used to produce a wide range of soft hackle type emerger patterns in Spain.
Few if any have seen these flies to day.
You cannot wind this hackle as you would for other soft hackles. There is a very special technique required to do so, one that l did not know until l was shown by a Spanish commercial tyer many years ago when in Spain.

Aside from that it is a great tailing and winging material.

When l get a moment l will tie some of the flies and post them for all to see.
Now this has got me to think again to tie a bunch for my own fishing again.

Davy.

[Davyfly]

Aaron, l forgot to add here two other great materials are.

Dyed Amhurst Pheasant collar.
The side feathers from a jungle cock neck, these are not the feathers that have the eye.

DW

[Nymphmeister]

Durability & barring are two great traits for nymph tails, I've been meaning to try the Coq de Leon. I usually use hen also, most commonly the mottled hen saddles. Same kinda look as partridge, with some movement, but more durable than it, although certainly not as much ast the CDL fibers.

[rwilliarp]

Nothing earth shattering here but I am fond of pheasant tail fibers. They have an inherent barby and buggy look. Others would be wood duck and gadwall (great barring). I know some duck hunters and get more than I need for free.

[nutman]

i like moose hair for some of my nymph tails it is tough stuff good on mayflies!

[alanb_ct]

On the Vladi and Jack Dennis DVD, a European fly tier uses CDL on a biot nymph variant. I used this last year and it made for effective flies. CDL is really spiky and makes for a slender tail. I think that any fiber from a deeply varigated feather like partridge or speckled hen is great. On my Hare's Ears, I always use a bunch of guard hairs from the mask. By the way, nearly the same comments pertain to the legs at the front of the nymph.