Synthetic Marabou

basser86 · January 28, 2016, 07:09:10 PM

Does anyone have any advice for tying with synthetic marabou? I am wondering how I should cut a clump from the skein it comes in. I don't want to square off the ends and ruin the action.

flowerjohn · January 28, 2016, 07:22:03 PM

Don't cut the ends! Just accept that you only need the length that you need and leave the rest on the skein. You will have best action that way. I know it hurts to leave all that material on there. Cheers. J.

basser86 · January 28, 2016, 07:28:34 PM

Do you pull it from the skein? I don't trim it once I have it tied in, but I'm not sure how to remove what I want from the package without cutting it.

flowerjohn · January 28, 2016, 07:50:15 PM

I'm assuming that it looks like that. I'm not sure of the image quality that I sent you. If it's not a good image I will go to my bench and send you a better image. Pull your thumb and forefinger down to the length that you need, cut it off, pull any of the loose stuff off with your other thumb and forefinger until nothing comes off and then you are good to tie. I measure off what I'm going to cut by positioning it right next to the hook. You don't want to re cut once it's cut because I'm my experience it starts to become a mess real fast because then you have to start pulling excess material from the top end. I hope this makes sense to you. If not I will send you a vid. Cheers. J.

basser86 · January 28, 2016, 09:00:23 PM

Thanks for your help!

basser86 · February 09, 2016, 09:04:03 AM

I just looked at the package again. It's called Pseudo Marabou. It is made from some type of synthetic fiber.

bigjim5589 · February 09, 2016, 05:00:21 PM

I don't buy the Pseudo Marabou, but do have some similar synthetics. My preference is for real marabou.

Pseudo Marabou is simply a better quality craft fur IMO, and I do tie some with craft fur. Craft furs usually are made attached to a cloth base. I cut a small clump at the base where it's attached, and pull out some of the finer fibers at the base. Being a fly tyer I save the finer stuff for another use, and tie onto the hook at that same base cut. The tips won't be like a natural material, but generally will have a more natural look than where the cut is made. I make a point to never trim the tips of any material, natural or synthetic unless there's no other option. For example, I tie with some crimped nylon material, and it has to be cut, as the fibers are the same diameter their entire length. But, they're really only good for very large jig styles, like "parachute" jigs used to troll for Striped Bass & other larger fish, or for flies where the nylon material takes a lot of abuse. I tie flies for Bluefish with the stuff.

basser86 · February 10, 2016, 10:57:42 AM

I agree that it looks and feels like craft fur except that it comes in one large bundle of fibers without any kind of backing. I don't like to cut it from the bundle square, but cannot think of any other options. Once I have it cut, I can pull individual fibers from the cut end, but cannot stretch the whole bundle. I have tried to pull what I need off of the bundle instead of cutting it, but the massed fibers are too strong for that. I will have to take a picture of the bundle itself. I only bought it because I couldn't find any gray / silver marabou at the time. I need to find some marabou or extra long craft fur to try in the same pattern.

bigjim5589 · February 10, 2016, 04:51:32 PM

You might try J. Stockard & Sons. They're good folks to deal with & they have marabou listed on their website in "gray minnow".

Arlin Eastman · February 13, 2016, 09:22:01 PM

Quote from: basser86 on February 10, 2016, 10:57:42 AM
I agree that it looks and feels like craft fur except that it comes in one large bundle of fibers without any kind of backing. I don't like to cut it from the bundle square, but cannot think of any other options. Once I have it cut, I can pull individual fibers from the cut end, but cannot stretch the whole bundle. I have tried to pull what I need off of the bundle instead of cutting it, but the massed fibers are too strong for that. I will have to take a picture of the bundle itself. I only bought it because I couldn't find any gray / silver marabou at the time. I need to find some marabou or extra long craft fur to try in the same pattern.

Way back when I was a kid tying fly's Grandpa told me to think of skinning a animal. If you clamp one part of the hide you can use a Scalpel that Dr's use and you can get them on EBay maybe a #10 would be best. Just scrap close to the hide and the hair will part off very well. He also had me use Hair spray to stiffen the hair so it would not fly away and easy to hold to.

I hope this is what you are talking about

basser86 · February 15, 2016, 08:06:00 AM

Thanks!