Different types of hair offer unique properties that make them staples in fly tying. Deer and elk hair are hollow and naturally buoyant, which allows them to flare when tied in and makes them ideal for dry-fly wings, hoppers, stoneflies, and caddis patterns that need to float high. Bucktail, with its long, fine fibers, is the foundation of countless streamer and saltwater baitfish patterns because it sheds water easily and moves well without collapsing. Rabbit fur, often used as strips, is soft, mobile, and pulsates in the water, making it perfect for leeches, zonkers, and other lifelike subsurface patterns. Moose mane and body hair are stiff and durable, commonly used for tails on dry flies or as natural quill substitutes in bodies. Caribou and antelope hair are coarser and more buoyant than deer, often chosen for spun or clipped heads on bass bugs and attractor patterns. Fox, coyote, and similar furs provide fine, flowing fibers that add motion and translucency to streamer wings. Each type of hair brings a different combination of buoyancy, movement, and durability, allowing tiers to choose the best material for the style of fly and species being targeted.
