Elk Hair Uses
- Thread starter alatt
- Start date
Bamboozle
Well-known member
The fatter the fibers the better BOTH float. Deer is probably mentioned more often because it is more common.
But as I learned from the great master of "hair" flies, the late Chris Helm, not all deer or elk hair is alike and suitable for the same type of flies.
In regards to uses, elk is all I use for my Elk Hair Caddis and Chris is they guy who used to choose and sell me the elk in my stash so as expected it works & floats great.
But as I learned from the great master of "hair" flies, the late Chris Helm, not all deer or elk hair is alike and suitable for the same type of flies.
In regards to uses, elk is all I use for my Elk Hair Caddis and Chris is they guy who used to choose and sell me the elk in my stash so as expected it works & floats great.
6xAdams(Jones)
Well-known member
I leave the fly-tying to other family members, but I've been told that the location of the hair on the animal's body (and even the time of year) is more important than the animal it comes from. For example, white belly hair from a deer in the summer is less coarse and much shorter than hair taken from the tail of a deer killed in the fall. Is that the case, or am I just being fed a line?
lestrout
Well-known member
Doesn't elk grow longer hair than deer? I have a wide variety of both, and the textures vary a lot, depending on season of harvest, age of the animal and especially where the hair was growing. I tend to use deer on Eastern flies, which are smaller than the bigger Stimulators, hoppers, and caddisses I use out there. I also have patches of elk hock which have dense, non-hollow short hairs - these I use one at a time for split tails on smaller flies.
Bocianka1
Active member
I believe elk hair and deer hair are pretty much interchangeable. Elk are a little larger and may be more likely to have heavier or thicker fur, but as mentioned, it is more important what part of the animal the hair came from and what season the animal was killed.
Here is a primer on Deer hair which gives some good overall information. It should apply equally to elk as well as deer.:
Ultimate Deer Hair Guide
Here is a guide resource on selecting deer hair which goes more into what parts of a deer hair is useful for when tying. again, this should apply eqaually for deer and elk.
Selecting Deer Hair guide
Here is a primer on Deer hair which gives some good overall information. It should apply equally to elk as well as deer.:
Ultimate Deer Hair Guide
Here is a guide resource on selecting deer hair which goes more into what parts of a deer hair is useful for when tying. again, this should apply eqaually for deer and elk.
Selecting Deer Hair guide
