Deer hair heads on muddlers.


I am having trouble with getting a nice round deer hair head on muddler minnows and rolled muddlers. Can't seem to get the deer hair to roll right around the shank of the hook.
Anyone got a secret to doing a nice neat job of this. Thanks


Garth,
First of all, use a good strong mono-cord or even a Kevlar thread for tying. I usually can't get the hair to STOP from spinning, but that's another story!
Try placing the clump of hair at a 45 deg. angle to the hook when you first tie it on as opposed to lying flat along the shank. Do NOT put any turns of thread around the clump itself...the thread must wrap around the shank AND the hair at the same time. One or two fairly tight turns of thread should be enough to hold the hair in place, then release your grip on the hair-clump and pull straight down on the thread (gently though) and it "should" start to spin around the shank. Once you've got that bunch of hair properly spun, add another clump (or two or three) and remember to push them together as you add clumps, so that you get a nice, thick bunch.
You can trim it with a razor blade and/or finish it off with some small scissors.
Hope that helps!
*

Back to Fly Fishing Page