Blood, Piss, and Deer Buttholes

The hardest part of the flytying game is coming up with good materials.  The last couple years we had to compete with the hair industry over hackle.  That has since slowed down and schlappen and saddles are becoming available again.  The other challenge is finding good bucktail.  Once in a while you can find good long haired tails in the fly shops but the best way to get good bucktail is to get your own.

This is the type of stuff to look for

I am fortunate to live in a state with such a rich hunting heritage.  Between what I shoot myself, what my friends shoot, and what I collect from various sources, I have a steady supply of high quality bucktail.  It does not come easily though.  The real fun part is processing the tails (insert sarcasm).

First they need washed.  I usually hand wash them in a sink first to get most of the really gross stuff off.  Then I put them in a washing machine.  I don't suggest you do this at your own house or your significant other is going to hurt you.  I am lucky that one of my good friends is a taxidermist so I use his washing machine.  Thats what he uses it for afterall.

The Witch's Brew

Next the tails are skinned and then split up the middle on the white side like you buy in the shops.  After this I remove any extra fat that may accumulate at the base of the tail.  This can get pretty nasty even after washing initially because they are usually still bloody and was once covered in deer piss, shit, and most still have the assholes attached to them. After all of that they get washed a 2nd time and then get to go for one more swim in denatured alcohol. I just throw 30 or so tails in a 5 gallon bucket with 2 gallons of alcohol.  You are going to want to keep a lid on so your alcohol does not evaporate.  You can reuse the alcohol several times.  The denatured alcohol cures the tails and the best part is the tails don't smell like fermented shark shit like they do when they are tanned for the shops. I let them soak for at least 48 hrs but usually just leave them in the stew till I'm ready to dye.

Split tail

Dying the tails is a whole other process on its own and I will go into that another time but the end product is worth the hastle. By the way if you're looking for a good reproduction of that trophy musky or pike you released the taxidermist I mentioned is one of the best in the country.  Dave Mcbride of Mcbride Taxidermy in Clearfield, PA.  Get a hold of him 814-765-3649

Finished Product