Tying Streamers: Ram’s Wool

[paul taylor]

i’m becoming interested in learning how to tie large streamer patterns as i’m reading Bob Linsenman and Kelly Galloup’s book “Modern Streamers for Trophy Trout”.

[anonymous]

Paul:

Woolhead sculpins are great patterns and a little easier to tie than the Whitlock Sculpin Mike was showing recently. You don’t really “spin” the wool as much as tie it in in tight clumps. It will rotate a little for you if you use strong enough thread. Trims easy–especially with curved scissors. http://www.flyflinger.com/streamer.html

Whitlock is of the opinion the deer hair head attracts fish more because it pushes more water. He’s probably right, but the woolhead sculpin produces some nice too. Fish sometimes hit it really hard. Probably a better pattern in clear, calm water situations.
Scott

[Tim Pommer]

Rams wool is a lot easier to tie in than deer hair and doesnt require as much spinning.

[paul taylor]

thanks for the input gentlemen!

[davy_wotton]

Paul,

Rams wool is indeed a different material to work with than deer hair and one or the other has advantages over the other depending on what you wish to do here.

In my opinion you cannot beat stacked or spun deer hair for surface fished fly patterns, and in some cases for flies you will fish subsurface.
Deer hair also allows for you to alternate color variations within the make up of the fly, more so than lambs wool.

I have used lambs wool a great deal, and there are two ways to use it.
The first is by the stack method the second is by the use of a dubbing loop, this takes a little more skill level as you have to make very sure you have the wool prepared the rigth way before you set it in the loop and commence the spin.

It is a great material for sculpins and flies you wish to work at depth.

One of my departed friends by teh name of Bob Johns, innovated the best wool head sculpin l have ever seen, granted there are many variations to day.

One tip here. Make sure that the wool you obtain is real good quality, some of the stuff out there is useless.

Davy.

http://daywotton.com
Custom flies.

[Mike Anderson]

I used it and I just don’t have much confidence throwing it. The sinking line and floating fly is a deadly combo.

[Author]

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