Synthetic Materials

[mcollins]

I've just started tying and made up a few clousers using kinky fiber and super hair. I like the stuff, it seems to be easier for me to use (maybe I'm getting better). If you can get past the industrial color look, it good stuff.
I like it's even diameter, you can tie on a clump in the middle, fold it back over itself and tie off, nice and neat
My question is, do a lot of the tyers out there use the stuff and is it more/less durable then natural materials.

[FishHawk]

I use superhair and find that it is durable . However, I like the look feel and action that natural bucktail gives . Its major disadvantage is being that bucktail is not as durable.

[bassman]

Synthetics are great. Especially if they are used in conjunction with natural materials. You can make some beatiful looking "out of the water" flies with super hair and epoxy but the flies have very little life like action "in" the water. Kinky Fiber looks promising IMO. It seems to be just a finer diameter of super hair and has more life in the water. I just tied some baitfish immitations with the stuff and was very impressed. I will soon have a step by step photo sequence article on my website tying with Kinky Fiber.......Jeff
www.flyfishsaltwaters.com

[HDale]

Like Jeff, I too notice that Super Hair and similar synthetics, while extemely durable, are too thick and tend to be action & lifeless in the water. I do like the Kinky Fiber and thinks it works much better.

The thicker stuff has its place though, I'll tie up some Clousers & Deceivers with it expressly for blues.

One tip: manually cut a taper in the material after tying or adjust the ends of the material before you apply. My biggest comment to those who tie them "as is" is that the end of the fly has the infamous "paint brush" effect ... cut straight off in one noticeable cut ... they need the taper to be more life-like.

[PeteSorensen]

I have been making some great high tie baitfish immitations with the relatively new polar hair(it is long polar fleece). It makes bulk without any weight and the stuff is really alive in the water. The big eye bait fish I made last year caught ALL of my big fish >32". It has a translucence that is hard to match.
Good luck,
Big Pete