Strangest Material

[Hollis]

I would like to know what odd materials have been used by the tyers of NGTO. This is a topic I have always found interesting as well as beneficial.
Here's mine: A green silicone swimmers cap I found at a pool in Smyrna. The strips cut from this make the perfect imitation of an inch worm in the Smokies.
What's yours?
Thanks-Hollis
Second-

[Kent]

While catching b****after b****on topwater one day, my friend asked me what I was fishing - I told him a black/orange/chartreuse "flip-flop" popper. "What the *!@# is that", he said.

Discount store shower/beach sandals make perfect popper bodies. (Cut small they also work for ants, hoppers, etc.) Very dense, tough foam - in interesting color combos, too. Many have 3 color layers. Buy the XL - will make many poppers. Cut them horizontally for body colors different on top, middle and bottom. Cut vertically for color change front to rear. Cut with razor blade (carefully), and if you wanna get fancy, shape with Dremel tool.

I tie my poppers big - there's one at kje.home.mindspring.com/popper.htm (http://kje.home.mindspring.com/popper.htm)

Another unique material use I've been experimenting with is the European "booby" fly, which utilizes pantyhose. You can see it at www.flyanglersonline.com/europe/part24.html (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/europe/part24.html)
The name actually comes from the British word "booby" - a cruel euphemism for the mentally ill. When you see the fly you'll see why I associate it with the more American interpretation of the word.

[FlygURL]

Got to talking the other night while tying about materials that would be strange fly tying materials...Came up with some dandys! Saw an old thread that sparked my curiousity... It's been a while, but what are some of the strangest materials that you have tyed with...

[huntfish]

Not tying material, but in college I dated a girl that wore big flashy earrings. She left them on my desk and I started thinking that they looked right for a spinner bait. They were heavy and were perfect for slow rolling. The fish loved them but the story gets better. She came back asking for her earrings. Told her that they were at the apartment. Raced home, dismantled spinner bait and returned them the next day. She never did figure out why I always laughed when she was wearing them. Besides, they looked better on the fish. http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

[J Byrd]

The legs of a certain spider make great tails for mayflies and tricos. A little trick from my Belgium friend.

------------------
J. Byrd
Kid tested, mother approved!

It was written: We are born to die. Let us cover a lot of water in that time.

[fishnpreacher]

I am tying some beetles now with a base of peacock hurl,add rubber legs, and then glue a sunflower seed hull to the hurl, paint it black and seal it with cement. Makes a neat beetle.

------------------
I can do all things through Christ <bill><

[cocoon]

Dog Dander Dubbing.

[FLYSLINGER]

Didn't a certain post get deleted because someone called by someone else a "booby"? I think it had something to do with an hair-trigger typing,large,nocturnal bird of prey that has been misinformed on the Sierra Club being called a booby by another ngto regular. Unfortunately the post is gone so i can't verify my thoughts. If you are only half crazy are you called half-boobied across the pond? just cusrious.

------------------
Screaming reels,
Jeremy

"Never go camping with a man that drinks whiskey sours."
Lewis Grizzard

[lurker]

The strangest material that I have used would have to be Fake fingernails, the glue on kind that women use. I use them to make spoons for saltwater fishing. Just build a base layer on your favorite hook, with chenile, peacock herl, yarn, etc.... epoxy the fingernail to the hook and paint. Oh yea, dont forget the tail. This pattern courtesy of a Fly Tyer magazine article, they work great!

[The Ole Man]

Horse tail hair makes great antenna on a shrimp pattern. Prob be good for little antenna on other patterns also. I've read that horse tail hair was braided into fly line way back prior to silk lines. Giddy up!

[biggatrout]

remember my post last year about kitty litter... http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/wink.gif

well this year I have plenty of kitty hair, and with three cats it comes in all colors..
http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif
Bigga....

[gverholek]

Your mention of "kitty hair" got me to thinking. Is there any reason not to use cat hair? I've tied a couple of scuds from some fine gray fur from one of my two long-haired cats. Seemed almost too fine for scuds, but could be good for other patterns. My wife trims the cats in the spring, so I've got tons of material in tan - gray - olive brown, etc. Ties okay, but does it have a residual "cat" odor or something that would deter fish from striking? What say you.