Fly Fishing

snowkid17 · Location: central florida

Ok if Elk hair floats is it possible to make a saltwater diver with it? If so how would you tie somethinglike that.

AvidDavid · Location: Long Island, NY

Snowkid:

Yes, elk hair TENDs to float as does deer hair. My experience has been that despite floating initially, after a few casts, it is difficult to keep the fly floating without exerting some effort to keep the fly on top of the water.

So, I would recommend:

1) do not apply any floatant to the fly if you do not wish to have it float!

2) soak it well and it will probably sink.

3) if you really want it to go deep, tie some additional weight to the hook:

a) either wire wound around the hook, or

b) you can use some type of metal foil (many places frown on lead use!)

c) consider bead heads or cone heads or barbell eyes

Look up patterns for clouser minnows or bead-head or cone-head wooly buggers and merge the weighted head concept with your elk hair pattern.

Good luck! post some pictures of the flies and the fish you catch!

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