Fly Tying Tails – Bucktail and Fox Hair

What is tail hair used for in fly tying?

Natural tail hair is used mainly for wings in streamers, salmon flies, sea trout flies and saltwater flies. This category includes whole and half bucktails, Arctic Fox Tail hair, Marble Fox hair and long silver fox tail hair.

When should you choose bucktail?

Bucktail is deer tail hair with a firm, springy texture and naturally tapered tips. When tied in under tension, the hair flares slightly, helps maintain a defined wing profile and supports longer, softer natural or synthetic materials.

Bucktail is used in patterns such as the Clouser Minnow and Deceiver, as well as in saltwater and pike flies. Depending on the pattern, you can choose a whole bucktail in Medium or Large size, a half bucktail or smaller pieces in several colours.

What is the difference between Arctic Fox Tail, Marble Fox and silver fox hair?

Fox hair is softer than bucktail hair, so the finished fly moves naturally during the retrieve, while sinking and during pauses. The main difference between these materials is the length of the hair.

• Arctic Fox Tail hair is soft and suitable for salmon flies, sea trout flies, tube flies, hairwing patterns and smaller streamers.
• Marble Fox hair is longer and can be used to tie longer, soft-moving wings. It suits medium-sized streamers as well as salmon, sea trout and saltwater flies.
• Silver fox tail hair is long and suitable for larger streamers, salmon flies and sea trout flies.

Bucktail or fox hair – which should you choose?

Bucktail is used mainly in saltwater flies and large pike flies. Fox hair is better suited to tying soft-moving wings for streamers, salmon flies and sea trout flies.

Other natural hairs, larger fur pieces and masks are available in our furs and hairs for fly tying category.

How to prepare tail hair for tying

Hair length and stiffness can vary across a single tail, so select the appropriate section before cutting. Cut the required bunch as close to the skin as possible, then remove any unwanted very short or very long hairs.

Loose underfur should also be combed out of the fox tail hair, preferably with a small comb. Some underfur can be left in place when more volume is required, or removed more thoroughly for a slimmer wing profile.

Use strong tying thread, preferably 100-denier GSP or heavier, to secure bucktail firmly to the hook shank.