Synthetic Hair and Fibre Blends for Streamers

Synthetic hair for streamers and large flies

Synthetic hair for streamer flies is used to tie wings and tails and to build full baitfish profiles. This group includes fine and translucent fibres, straight or crimped hair, fibres with different levels of stiffness and ready-made blends of synthetic hair and flash.

The materials vary in length, stiffness and the amount of flash they provide. This makes it possible to select suitable fibres for medium-sized streamers as well as large pike flies, huchen streamers and saltwater flies.

Choosing fibre length, softness and stiffness

Finer fibres work well in small and medium-sized streamers because they do not add excessive volume to the wing. Soft materials move more freely in the water, while stiffer hair supports the other layers and helps a larger streamer retain its profile.

Crimped fibres create more volume with less material. Examples include the strongly crimped Hends Crimped Minnow Hair and the lightly crimped Sybai Slinky Hair.

Translucent fibres and blends with flash

Translucent fibres can be tied in thin layers to create smooth transitions between colours. Sybai Ghost Stiffer Hair is a good example of fine, translucent fibres with additional stiffness.

Streamflash Hair, Twist Flash Hair, Magnum Ice Hair and Sparkle Supreme Hair combine fibres used to build the streamer wing and profile with a stronger flash effect. They can form much of the streamer wing and profile and can be mixed with one another or combined with other synthetic fibres.

Tying large, lightweight streamers

For large flies, choose longer fibres that create a full profile without requiring thick, dense bunches of material. Many synthetic materials absorb little water, helping larger streamers remain relatively light when casting.

Tie the fibres in thin layers, adding one small bunch at a time to the hook shank. Lighter and translucent fibres can be used in the rear and lower parts of the fly, while darker fibres form the upper layer. Blends containing flash can be added towards the front and along the sides of the fly.

For other reflective and synthetic materials, see our range of flash and synthetic fly-tying materials.

Frequently asked questions

Which synthetic hair should I choose for a large streamer?

Choose long fibres with enough stiffness to support the profile of the fly. Within this category, product ranges carrying Magnum in the name can be a useful starting point when choosing fibres for larger patterns. Stiffer fibres can be placed in the middle and rear sections, while softer fibres work well when forming the head.

How do these materials differ from Craft Fur and traditional flash materials?

Craft Fur is a fine synthetic fur supplied on a backing. Traditional flash materials are mainly used to add reflective accents. The loose synthetic hair and fibre blends in this category can form the wing, tail or full profile of a streamer.