Tails

[ThrowingTimber]

when you place a good sized clump of hair on the hook shank, you've already: Flicked out the floaty's **thats a technical term** and you've cut it at a slight angle. (so your hair is good to go) You place the hair on your hook shank, secure it (again medium tension, whats medium tension, medium tension is dropping your bobbin and watching what happens to the wrap) Ok, so now you got this massive clump of hair(which softens or kills action) on your hook shank, pinch it a LIL bit! Dont pinch it hard, take your index finger and tap it to your thumb.. yep pinch it that tight. With each pinch, more of a squeeze really, you'll see and feel the hair move around the hook shank.

[ThrowingTimber]

There is your head. Tie that off with a few half hitches, dont worry too much about whip finishers and foofy stuff like that since you're going to epoxy your threads. Finish with head cement or 5, 10, 30 min epoxy (the faster it sets the more yellowing you'll get, beachmaster had mentioned something about using a uv inhibitor in fast curing epoxy maybe that can be used here. Im not sure, give it a whack and let me know). If you go with the epoxy, you'll need to make a spinner for the head to get a nice round head. You can get the motors here: Fly shops sell these with a switch and a styrofoam circle for like 30 bux. the $2.75 deal is what youre looking for. Grab that up, buy your wife/girl/ flavor of the month a nice flower bouquet. When they die (the flowers) rip out that styrofoam "Thinggie" (thinggie is a technical term) and cut it into a round piece. Take that, round piece and stick it on that motor. Go to home rip off and get an extension cord thinggie for a lamp. Wire that to the $2.75 motor. Make a wicked nice stand for it (you got a shop full of tools), so your styrofoam thinggie can spin free and your tails will spin without hitting the base of your spinner thinggie. Spin til they're dry and you're done.

And thats about it. Again I dont profess to know everything about tying or hair selection etc etc. This is how I was taught and I figured it may help someone out. There are some VERY talented tyers here John K., OJ, Scott B., Andrew, Nib ties a mean tail too, these guys come to mind immediately, and I welcome them to chime in with any corrections or points for improvement.

[Nebe]

vic, great post.. i never knew about tapering the hair when you place it on the shank..i always went with a straight bunch, and it was always a disaster..

gracias tio juevo.

[ThrowingTimber]

glad to help bro

[BigFish]

Thanks for all the trouble Vic....I will let you know how I make out!

[fishaholic18]

Thanks Vic, great post.

[ProfessorM]

Thank you.

[ThrowingTimber]

Glad to help guys If anyone cant make out a certain step or process or anything like that just gimme a call or pm me I'll try and get you squared away.

[Backbeach Jake]

Now there was a boatload of stuff I didn't know, thanks Vic!

[Jigman]

Good stuff Vic Couple of quick additions: You can also find those circular foam disks at Michaels or other craft stores. They sell them to make flower arrangements and come in many sizes (cheap too). I mostly use rod wrapping thread in size A. There is less tendancy to cut the tail with that stuff than kelvar thread If you check around at your local fly tying place you can find a tool for sending your thread through the bobkin (around 50 cents and worth every penny).

One thing I do different is that I'll place the deer hair on the hook before I trim it. Make a few wraps to secure it, spread it around the hook as you suggest, couple more wraps, then trim the hair with a single edge razor. Cut at an angle as you suggest. I find it easier to get all the hair even this way if I have to add more than one bunch. Probably more of a personal thing. I also like to add a drop or two of Zap a Gap (the stuff in the pink labeled bottle) on the wraps/hair before doing the final wraps. Add the zap, then continue wrapping to finish up. This will sink the zap into the threads/hair. It will not come out once done this way. A little head cement or epoxy on the wraps when done and you have the perfect wrap.

Jigman