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
	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
	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.
	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″.
	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.
	Colors:Black, White, Yellow, Orange
	Hareline Scud Back
	12 colors available. Similar to latex, thin and flexible. Used for trailing shucks and scud backs.
	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.
	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.
	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.

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

Synthetics

Wing Material

Hareline Krystal Flash

Hareline Flashabou

Bett’s Z-lon

Body Material

Evasote Fly Foam

Rainy’s Round Float Foam

Hareline Scud Back

Wapsi Thin Skin

Hareline’s Stalcup Tubing

Hareline Flashabou Mylar Cord

Leg Material

Rubber Hackle

Crazy Legs

Spandex Floss

Tailing Material

Microfibbets