Material Selection

[Kdog]

I tie a lot using maribou simply because I like the action I get from it. However, I like the look of the hackle ties I see and felt this may be a good topic for an open discussion.

I see 
Maribou - good material for many situations and IMO is great for almost do nothing jigging under a float or simply tight line jigging from a pier or boat.
Bucktail/Craft hair great for more active presentations
Feather (Hackles) looks great, Has a nice subtle action
Wool, similar to maribou, just a fuller jig

so let hear it, what is your preferred material and why?


BTW I decided to add a poll just to see if it works with the new format! Please participate.

Thanks

 

[Muskygary]

Lots of new synthetics out there. Mylar, Halo, etc. very shiney and lots of action. Been tying up all synthetic jigs for crappie, walleye, etc. They are easy to tie and catch fish.

 

[Jay Wirth]

Bucktail Only - I have never used craft hair. Im getting old and prefer to stay as traditional as possible...

 

[Jig Man]

Bou mostly fer me, but I do like arctic fox hair cause its tough.And buck tail on the larger stuff. Not much on craft, but the new syns. stuff looks really good....

 

[NorCoMike]

Usually maribou for me. But rabbit has really taken over in most of my jigs.

 

[AtticaFish]

I have really grown to love craft hair, tons of fluid movement in the water and it holds up well. Rabbit zonkers are probably 2nd on my list. I keep thinking i do need to get some of the Artic Fox to try but then forget to add it to my cart when i order.

Kdog - I messed with the poll.... so i could vote for ALL of them.

 

[Pup]

What, exactly, is the difference between craft hair and craft fur?  There is a distinction made by many tiers on other boards and I'd like to know it in order to keep my knowledge up-to-date about current fly tying materials.  Fabric stores point me in the direction of bolts for craft fur and to the doll hair aisle for craft hair which is curly, useless stuff to me.  The fly shop I visit sells craft fur.

The fabric industry sells craft hair in their shops that belongs atop doll heads.   Honestly, I believe that 'craft hair' is a term used by one distributor to market their products to be distinguishable from other synthetic craft fur products in the jig/fly-tying realm.

I truly believe that there is, likely, only one distributor of merchandised 'craft hair' for tying purposes.  It's been done as a marketing ploy to differentiate their product apart from others.  It's all craft fur to me.

I do have a long-time association with the fabric industry.  Also, I voted pure synthetic since I've encountered the distinction between craft hair and craft fur at hobby and fabric stores.

 

[Fatman]

Just no way to vote for one!!

I like all materials!!! Pup like you I've seen what some stores call craft fur and I wouldn't buy it. I really like arctic fox but for what a tanned hide costs - THEN if you can dye pieces of it without making the hide hard (still waiting to hear from some tanners on this), and then making your cutter to slice them up.

Again to hard to have to pick just one!!

 

[Kdog]

I have really grown to love craft hair, tons of fluid movement in the water and it holds up well.   Rabbit zonkers are probably 2nd on my list.  I keep thinking i do need to get some of the Artic Fox to try but then forget to add it to my cart when i order.  

Kdog - I messed with the poll.... so i could vote for ALL of them.  

Part of the poll was to make sure it works, something is wrong though, each of your votes should show as 1/4.

Glad you can manipulate data, wanna help me in the presidential election?

 

[duffy]

Just starting at this hobby I would guess it would depend on the species that your targeting or style of fishing, correct? So saying that a person should have a little bit of everything...........oh man, this is gonna get expensive.... :-/

 

[Shoemoo]

Arctic fox hair. It moves a lot like marabou in the water, except it's easier to tie, less messy, has less waste and is a lot more durable.

 

[jackie53]

Live in the trout capital of the world.Fish for Bream, crappie,bass,smallmouth,walleye,hybrid stripers .Have all different types marabou,craft hair,artic fox,buck tail,ect.The one material that catches fish day in and day out is the synthetic(angle hair,slf hanks)(crazy angler)(microlon)(keeps its form better) hot or cold this material out fish's the other.The Marabou,craft ect looks prettier to the eye,The synthetic (angle hair,slf hanks(microlon)(jan's netcraft) catches fish.

 

[AllenOK]

I would have voted if there was an "Other" option, or a "Fox Tail" or "Rabbit" option. I really like the movement of those two. Plus, Fox is so much more durable than Marabou.

 

[Lost Pole]

Can't see poll on Tapatalk, but having been tying mostly rabbit and I'm loving it.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[LedHed]

I am tyed between marabou and hackle. For me, it depends on the style/pattern of the jig.

 

[bombora]

Bucktail mainly. Arctic Fox for smaller jigs. Rabbit for very small jigs.  95 per cent of my fishing is saltwater. Marabou gets mangled pretty quick by toothy saltwater species. Feathers added for deceiver styled jigs. Gotta source some craft fur/hair.