Fly tyers are always looking for new materials that offer something special to make patterns look or make fishing better. Tim Flagler from Tightline productions shows you how peccary hair (sometimes called peccary) works feathers) can help produce a cool, mottled, segmented body and stiff, buoyant tails. The biggest challenge will be finding dyed peccary hair as it is not readily available in fly shops (especially colored Peccary). However, as you will see, the search will be worthwhile.
Photo by Wing-Chi Poon, used via CC BY-SA 3.0
In this great video, Tim walks you through the steps to create a realistic isonychia dun imitation using several of his signature techniques. If you’re not a Flagler-Stan, check out how he uses the tying thread to hold the body wraps tightly together, and his rolled-up post trick will change the way you tie all of your parachute patterns.
Parachute peccary isonychia
Hook: Wide gap dry fly hook (here a Lightning Strike DF1), size 12.
Thread: White, 6/0 or 70 denier.
Tail: Medium brown peccary hair, stacked.
wing post: Light Gray Polypropylene Floating Yarn.
Abdomen: A single, thick, medium-brown peccary hair.
Thorax: UV2 Fine & Dry Isonychia Dubbing.
Chop: Barred brown badger hackle, a little too small.
Head: binding thread.
Adhesive: Head cement (here Sally Hansen Hard-as-Nails).
Tool: Hackle tongs, striking tool.