Musk Rat ?????

[Herman Jooste]

Hello all,
With the last freshwater flyswap I received some Muskrat fur. This stuff is increadibly soft and the colour change from root to tip is from grey to medium brown. The gaurd hairs are almost black.

My questions:

Is it water repellent, i.e. suitable for dries ?

Should I rather cut it up small for dubbing ?

Because it's so soft should I use the longer hairs in a soft hackle, instead of a soft hackle ?

C'mon Flyguide, Gerrit, Chris S. OMR and all you other out the box tiers, your input would be appreciated.

[Morne]

I also got some of that Muskat a few months ago from Wiets. I have used the underfur on Adams dry flies for a while now. The colour ir great for it. Have also used the underfur together with the guard hairs for soft hackles spun in a dubbing loop and wound on as a color. Havnt used the flies yet but they look great. HAve used the guard hairs for tails on some flies as well.

Dont cut it up. Just pull the fur out like you would do with a hare's ear. Then pull out the underfur and use it for dubbing.

[rols]

I also got some of that Muskat a few months ago from Wiets. I have used the underfur on Adams dry flies for a while now. The colour ir great for it. Have also used the underfur together with the guard hairs for soft hackles spun in a dubbing loop and wound on as a color. Havnt used the flies yet but they look great. HAve used the guard hairs for tails on some flies as well.

Dont cut it up. Just pull the fur out like you would do with a hare's ear. Then pull out the underfur and use it for dubbing.

ditto.....some great soft hackles with the dubbing loop, really a lot of movement.
cheers

[Benja]

I'm glad you asked this Herman, I was also wondering how to use mine.

[poppernel]

Have some as well. Great fur for taddy tying. Not water repellent. Can also be used as others have stated.

Dave

[Herman Jooste]

ditto.....some great soft hackles with the dubbing loop, really a lot of movement.
cheers

Rols, do you split your thread or actually form a loop with the thread.

[Herman Jooste]

Have some as well. Great fur for taddy tying. Not water repellent. Can also be used as others have stated.

Dave

Now here's a question. Would it work if cut into crosscut zonker strips ????

[Morne]

I split mine, but you can use either. Since i discovered the spilt thread tecnique I have never gone back to the loop.

Rols, do you split your thread or actually form a loop with the thread.

[poppernel]

Now here's a question. Would it work if cut into crosscut zonker strips ????

Will work perfect for zonker strips. What a waste though, good fur which gives lots of pulsating movement, rather use atificial or synthetics for zonkers.

Dave

[Herman Jooste]

Will work perfect for zonker strips. What a waste though, good fur which gives lots of pulsating movement, rather use atificial or synthetics for zonkers.

Dave

Thans Dave,

Can you imagine the movement of a 1/4" wide crosscut,palmered in on a # 6 bugger with a straight cut tail for LM's.