Moose Mane Dyed Variety

Fly Patterns Using Long Dyed Moose Mane

Long dyed moose mane is a versatile, durable fly-tying material prized for its length (often 8-12 inches from adult bulls), stiffness, and ability to hold dye vividly. It’s particularly effective for creating segmented bodies, wings, tails, legs, and throats in various patterns. The dyeing process allows for custom colors like black, brown, yellow, red, or blue, enhancing realism or visibility in different water conditions. Below, I’ll outline key types of fly patterns where it’s commonly used, grouped by category, with specific examples and tying roles. These draw from traditional and modern salmon flies, trout imitations, and more.

1. Salmon and Steelhead Flies (Hairwing and Wet Patterns)

Moose mane shines in Atlantic and Pacific salmon flies due to its buoyancy and flare for wings. It’s ideal for larger hooks (e.g., #2-8) and low-water conditions.

• Hairwing Atlantic Salmon Flies (e.g., Newfoundland-style patterns like the Hair Wing Neptune): Used as primary wing material for upright or married wings; dyed versions add color contrast. Also for throats or under-throats to create flash.
• Wet Flies for Salmon/Steelhead (e.g., Newfoundland wet flies or summer steelhead imitations): Dyed mane forms the wing and collar (throat hackle) for a bushy profile that swings well in currents.
• Spey-Style Patterns (e.g., Irish Shrimp variants): Long strands for low-lying wings or tails, dyed red or yellow for provocation in murky fall waters.

2. Dry Flies (Trout and Grayling Imitations)

The mane’s natural taper and dye-holding properties make it great for buoyant, segmented bodies on small to medium dries (#12-18).

• Mosquito Patterns: Wrapped as a quill-style body (one dark and one light dyed strand twisted together) for a realistic, high-floating silhouette.
• Caddis Imitations (e.g., Moose Mane Caddis or Elk Hair Caddis variants): Substitutes for elk hair in upright wings or bodies; dyed for seasonal color matching (e.g., tan or olive).
• Mayfly Duns (e.g., Reverse Moose Mane Mayfly): Multi-colored dyed segments for abdomen and thorax, creating match-the-hatch bodies with subtle barring.

3. Nymphs and Emergers (Subsurface Trout Patterns)

Shorter clippings or wrapped sections provide realistic segmentation and durability underwater.

• Midge and Baetis Nymphs: Dyed mane for bodies or wing cases; its suppleness allows tight wraps without splitting.
• General Nymphs (e.g., Humpy-style or stonefly nymphs): For wing cases, legs, or feelers; long strands can be split and tied in for antennae.
• Terrestrial Nymphs: Legs and feelers on hopper or ant patterns, where the stiffness mimics insect exoskeletons.

4. Terrestrial and Attractor Patterns

• Hippie Stomper Variants: Tails or legs; dyed for pop in foam-bodied attractors.
• Cranefly Imitations: Long legs that flare naturally, though less durable in heavy use.
• Tri-Color Body Dries: Segmented bodies using three differently dyed mane pieces wrapped side-by-side for a mottled, buggy look.

Tying Tips for Long Dyed Moose Mane

• Preparation: Select unwashed mane for better flexibility; dye in small batches for even color. Stack for uniformity.
• Common Hooks: #8-12 for dries/nymphs, #2-6 for salmon flies.
• Durability: It’s stiffer than body hair, so avoid over-tight wraps to prevent breakage. Apply floatant sparingly on dries.
• Sourcing: Available in black/brown naturals or dyed assortments from fly shops; pairs well with CDC, peacock herl, or synthetic flash.

These patterns leverage the mane’s length for efficient tying and its dye affinity for customization. For salmon flies, focus on hairwings for beginners; for trout, start with mosquito bodies. If you’re tying specifics, patterns like the Hair Wing Neptune or Moose Mane Caddis are forgiving entry points.

Moose Mane Dyed Varity Pack 5 Color Varied Lengths