Synthetics

Synthetics

Fly Tying Materials are often divided between Natural and Synthetic origins. The natural materials were those that could be captured within nature. Items like feathers, hair, and fur were utilized for fly tying exclusively up until the 1970’s. Starting in the 1970’s, synthetics, which were manufactured materials, started to play an important part in developing fly patterns. Some of the advantages with synthetics is creating bulk without adding weight. This attribute can be seen with synthetic hair such as Bett’s Z-lon and Krystalflash. Another advantage is that most synthetics do not absorb water and the fly pattern tends to not get waterlogged with use. Foam is an important synthetic providing both durability and flotation. Synthetic materials such as rubber and silicon are used for legs on many patterns with both consistency is thickness and great colorations.

Wing Material

Hareline Krystal Flash

Crinkly filaments with many points of light. Used for additional sparkle in wings and tails. Color Chart

Hareline Krystal Flash
Colors: SILVER, GOLD, RED,GREEN, ROYAL BLUE, WINE, LIGHT BLUE,COPPER, PEARL,PINK,HOT YELLOW, PURPLE,MIXED COLORS,PEARL BLUE, BLACK,HOT ORANGE,PEACOCK,LIME GREEN, OLIVE,SMOLT BLUE,GRAY GHOST, DARK PURPLE,ROOT BEER, PEARL RED, FL. ORANGE,FL. CERISE, FL. FIRE ORANGE,FL. SHRIMP PINK, FL. CHARTREUSE,FL. YELLOW, UV BLUE, UV GRAY, UV HERRING BACK, UV ORANGE, UV PINK, UV PURPLE, UV TAN,UV PEARL,

Hareline Flashabou

Originally invented by Larry Dahlberg and manufactured by Hedron Company of Minnesota. A thin, flat tinsel mylar with a marabou action. Color Chart

Flashabou
Colors: Silver, Mint Green, Pink, Lime Green, Dark Blue, Fountain Blue, Grape Gold, Perch, Salt & Pepper, Bronze, Red, Black, Bullfrog Kelly Green, Pearl, Electric Blue, Purple Chub, Rainbow, Purple, Red Pearl, Ocean Green, Copper, June Bug, Ice Blue Pearl, Light Blue, Fuchsia, Black Pearl

Bett’s Z-lon

About the time that Gary LaFontaine was touting Antron, John Bett’s was touting Z-lon. Both are synthetic fibers used within the rug industry. Used for wings, parachute posts, wingcases, tails and shucks, often substituted in place of antron.

Z-lon
Colors: brown, cream , dun , ginger , light dun , olive brown, white , green, light olive , dark olive , red , yellow , black

Body Material

Evasote Fly Foam

Evasote is a closed cell foam made of ethyl vinyl acetate. It is soft and compressible with sheet thicknesses from 1/8″ to 1″.
Evasote Foam
Colors:Yellow , White, Black, Orange, Light Grey , Red ,Tan , Brown, Blue

Rainy’s Round Float Foam

Comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. Used for ant bodies, beetles, stoneflies, extended bodies.

Round Foam
Colors:Black, White, Yellow, Orange

Hareline Scud Back

12 colors available. Similar to latex, thin and flexible. Used for trailing shucks and scud backs.

Fine & Dry
Colors: Tan, Orange, Light Olive, Pink, Clear, Grey, Dark Olive, Red, Black, Brown, Yellow, Chartreuse

Wapsi Thin Skin

Printed translucent sheets that stretch. A paper backing allows the material to be cut to any shape or size. Used for wingcases, scud backs, nymph carapaces. Can be used as a substitute for Swiss Straw.

Thin Skin
Mottled Bustard Colors – Natural, Yellow, Orange, Olive
Mottled Oak Colors – Natural, Orange, Olive, Golden Stone
Plain Colors Clear, Burnt Orange, Gray, Tan, Ginger, Brown, Rusty Brown, Red, Light Olive, Olive, Black, Amber, Gray Brown, Chartreuse, Shrimp Pink

Hareline’s Stalcup Tubing

22 colors available. 3 sizes: Micro, Midge, and Standard. Translucent hollow vinyl tubing. Used for segmented bodies and ribbing. Some tiers will add material within the tubing for special effects. Stretchable to a thinner size. Similar products are Larva Lace and Liquid Lace.

Stalcup Tubing
Colors: BLACK, BLOOD RED, BROWN, BUCKSKIN , CHARTREUSE, CLEAR,CREAM, DARK GOLDEN STONE,GRAY, LIGHT GOLDEN STONE, LIGHT OLIVE, MAHOGANY, OLIVE, OLIVE BROWN, ORANGE, PEACOCK, PHEASANT TAIL , PINK , RED, RUST, TAN, WHITE , YELLOW,

Hareline Flashabou Mylar Cord

Available in 3 sizes: small , medium, large. Colors are Silvertone, Gold, Green, and Copper. Also available in pearlescence and holographic. Used for small minnow bodies. Material can be marked for additional coloration.

Flashabou Tubing

Flashabou Body

Leg Material

Rubber Hackle

Rubber Hackle is made of Butyl Rubber. Very durable but somewhat stiff. It comes either round or flat and in usually three sizes : standard, small , and micro. Variations are available with Grizzly barring and color flecks.

Round Rubber Hackle
Colors: black, white, chartreuse, yellow, red, cream, pink, brown, olive, purple orange, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange, fluorescent red, kelly green, blue, gray.

Crazy Legs

Crazy Legs are made of Silicon Rubber. They are softer and more pliable than rubber hackle. Most have color speckles embedded within the material. New variations of the product include fluorescent tips, barring, and mottled natural colorations.

Sili Legs
Colors: (Skirt/Flake): Black/Red, Brown/Orange, Chartreuse/Black, Clear/Pearl, Clear/SaltnPepper, Lime/Black, Olive/Black, Orange/Orange Black, Yellow/Gold Black

Spandex Floss

Spandex Floss (ie Flex Floss, Life Flex) is a thin strand of spandex material. It is more durable and transluscent than Rubber Legs. Comes in many colors. Used for legs, feelers, tails, and ribbing, but also for bodies, tied and wrapped similar to quill bodies.

SpanFlex
Colors: Black, Blood-Red, Brown, Cream, Dk-Olive, Ginger, Lt-Gray, Lt-Olive, Olive, Orange, Purple, Red, Tan, Wht, Yellow, Fl-Chartreuse, Fl-Pink

Tailing Material

Microfibbets

Ultra thin fibers. Used for tailing materials and legs or feelers on smaller flies. 7 colors available.

Microfibbets
Colors: White, Ginger, Brown, Olive, Black, Dark Dun, Light Dun