Seals fur

[Wiets]

Is this material usable in fly tying?
Can one still get seals fur - at what cost?

The reason for these questions is that I can get a 30" x 40" tanned seal pelt.

[Chris Shelton]

Is this material usable in fly tying?
Can one still get seals fur - at what cost?

The reason for these questions is that I can get a 30" x 40" tanned seal pelt.

Seals fur is brilliant for dry fly tails. I use it for my Zak tails aswell. You cant go wrong with it Wiets.

[MaXiMuM]

this is one of the best materials you can use... I love it, and if your getting, I am first in line...

Mike
Seals Fur Emerger
http://www.flytalk.co.za/forum/attac...0&d=1166605117

[chris williams]

Wiets, it was one of the all-time greats in pre-synthetic days, and because of some of the guys 'clubbing' them the stuff ended up on the banned list. I still have a fair amount left from my old grand-uncle who lived on a little island off Vancouver Island after WW2, and I have it dyed in about a dozen or so colours. It is simply wonderful dubbing material. It doesn't change colour in the water and is wonderfully springy and resilient. It does not tie ultra-thin dubbing for quick-sink nymphs unlike mole, rabbit or hare, but as it doesn't matt or cloy together, it's great for dries and emergers and you get the air-bubbles trapped in. There are synthetics around, but the Real McCoy is THE one.

My grand-uncle used to only use baby seal's fur collected from dead animals that'd been half eaten by grizzlies etc. - he wasn't a 'seal-clubber' in fact the opposite. One of the few guys in WC Canada who was anti the 'clubbing'. It comes naturally in a creamish colour, or at least from the seals around there.

Talking about books with Chris Shelton, I've his one book at home here with me now, 'The Long Beaches - A Voyage In Search Of The North Pacific Fur Seal' (Ian MacLaskie). I've his first copy in the First Edition printed 1979, signed and addressed to my late mother.

To paraphrase parts of the biographical notes which shows he was quite a boykie - a real toughie yet a sensitive eco streak, which is always as I remembered him.
He was born in England and in WW2 was a major with the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment in the BEF 'invasion'. He was taken prisoner by the Krauts in 1940 when he was doing a commando-type recce behind enemy lines. He escaped from three prison camps only to end up as a 'special guest' in Colditz. After the war to 'chill out' form his terrible wartime experiences, he moved to Canada where he was a marine mammal researchist for the Arctic Biological Station and the Pacific Biological Station on the West Coast.
His primary concern was the Arctic fur seal, though he also did studies on the Steller sea lion, sea otters and Killer whales.
His marine research has made a tremendous impact on knowledge of those species in Alaska, British Columbia and Oregon. He was also a keen observer of the people who inhabited the isolated places like the Innuits, Native Americans, fishermen and homesteaders. He also had a trmendous colletion of old manuscripts and diaries of early explorers and also old locals folk trales on tape.
I remember him mainly as an ace West Coast pioneer flyfisher, and as a severely disciplined guy from his army and Colditz days. Every morning, winter included, he'd wake up to a cold outside shower. Ice would be melted over a fire if necessary. A gentle, brave and intelligent giant with a great personality and sense of humour. Such a shame he passed away a few years back before I could get more reminiscences from him..
Anyway I've the book!

So Wiets, yes, seal's fur I know a bit from my forebears!

[chris williams]

PS I've sufficient thanks if you're distributing give to the worthy 'Olivers' on the Forum! Cheers, I hope to get to North Riding tomorrow

[Andre]

Seal fur is awesome. there is the one with the short guard hairs and the one with the long. They make awesome yellowfins flies as well, great caddis pupae, and also for tying immitations with legs. The hydrophobic nature of the seal fur also makes great dries. Probably the best and most versatile material you can lay your hands on.
I can be dyed to all colours as well as bleached. The natural is great anyway.

Be warned it is a biaatch to dub , but once you get used to it, quite managable

[Herman Jooste]

Wietz, I'm IN and willing to PAY nogal

Missed out on all the others. NOT THIS TIME )

[chris williams]

Do you also only know 20% how to use this stuff??

No, seeryuzzz, get some, Herman, it's totally different to all the synthetics and most of the weedy wet fly/nymph type dubbings - if not, guess I'll just have to give you some of mine!

[Herman Jooste]

Do you also only know 20% how to use this stuff??

No, seeryuzzz, get some, Herman, it's totally different to all the synthetics and most of the weedy wet fly/nymph type dubbings - if not, guess I'll just have to give you some of mine!

Chris, I know 0% of how to use it . But it appears I NEED some
You are going to have sell you pozzie by StStith's and move to Vdb.
We,ll both end up divorced, find a flea pit, open a pub that's close to the water AND open on SUndays, hire the best "Madam" in town to run the "back rooms" and do the recruiting,whilst we rake in the money and fish every day

[chris williams]

...and have a holiday cottage in Fishhoek, from where we can fish Sandvlei, wearing our Pradas, drinking Bells mineral water, and catch booger all on your Tibetan yak/seal's fur Flippers!