"riverman" wrote in message
...

Thanks for that link and the quote: its come up here several times in the
past few years and I remembered it was out there, but forgot where.
Actually, I'm not using deer hair, so I have to be more educated in my
methods: I'm using some African critter that has hollow fiber hair like a
deer, but its a bit harder to work with. However, it sure flares easily,
so
I think I really WILL stop trying to make humpies and instead just learn
to
spin this. It might be rather special for that.

--riverman



It is relatively easy to test the properties of various hair etc. Simply
bind some on a bare hook, and see what happens. Hair which flares, does so
because it is compressible, this often means that it is also buoyant.

If you want to tie "humpies" with such stuff, then use a hackle bunch or
similar for the tail ( or some other hair, antelope, calf, zebra, etc etc),
and then tie in a bunch of your flaring hair at the bend with the tips
pointing forwards. Wrap the body, tying down the tips, and then bring the
hair over, and tie it down. Apply your wings and hackles as usual, and that
was it. Looks and works perfectly well, but overcomes several problems;
sizing the hair, and getting the right type.

If you want to flare( spin) hair, then do it on a blank hook. Only tie down
after applying each bunch. Push each bunch back tightly to pack it ( finger
and thumbnail works for me), take a turn ( or a half hitch) to secure, ( a
drop of varnish after each clump makes such flies nearly bombproof)and apply
the next bunch. Do not try to trim any hair, until the last bunch has been
applied.

TL
MC