pab1
Well-known member
Does anyone know where I can get crosscut squirrel zonkers?
Crosscut Squirrel?
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peregrines
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Pab1-
I haven't seen any X cut squirrel strips- (just rabbit). If you really need it you'd have to buy a whole skin and cut it yourself-- that said, you probably won't need it for most patterns and can just wrap a collar with the same strips you use for the tail.
For example this Slumpbuster was tied with the same lengthwise cut strips for the tail/body and collar:
http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/fly-patterns/60468-slumpbuster.html?ltr=S
I haven't seen any X cut squirrel strips- (just rabbit). If you really need it you'd have to buy a whole skin and cut it yourself-- that said, you probably won't need it for most patterns and can just wrap a collar with the same strips you use for the tail.
For example this Slumpbuster was tied with the same lengthwise cut strips for the tail/body and collar:
http://www.theflyfishingforum.com/forums/fly-patterns/60468-slumpbuster.html?ltr=S
pab1
Well-known member
Thanks peregrines. I love slumpbusters and tie them the same way. A "new" beadhead pattern I'm tying would work better with crosscut though. I saw some micro cut squirrel that may work a little better than the standard squirrel I have now. If that doesn't work I'll have to try cutting my own.
Jimmie
Well-known member
Seems like I've seen it but maybe not. I know that I've seen "Slumpbusters" with short collars. The ones that I tie are all too long. I like the slumpbuster too. It's my "go to" in swift current.
i'm almost certain i saw this in an online store. If i can find it again i'll let you know
Edit:
NO luck.
Edit:
NO luck.
mcnerney
Administrator
If you can't find it online, the best way I have found to cut hides is with a rotary cutter (like the quilters use for cutting fabric).
I did find this reference on the Fly Tying World site, this was tied by Bill Charles:
Hook: TMC 5263 or 5262 #10-12.
Thread: Olive 6/0.
Tail: Olive grizzly mini-marabou (aka: chickabou).
Body: Crosscut olive dyed Pine Squirrel.
Head: Gold bead.
Note: I love the look and action that cross-cut fur wrapping gives to Pike/Bass flies but the hair length of the commonly used rabbit fur makes it unsuitable for smaller flies. I found that Pine squirrel fur is just the right length for size 8 to 12 streamers. It is not available, as far as I know, in crosscut strips so you have to make your own.
This is by far my most productive streamer pattern and has saved many a day.
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silver creek
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peregrines
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tpcollins-- the hair on a squirrel zonker type strip is much shorter and finer than rabbit and the hair is not quite as soft. Squirrel strips also tend to be cut thinner than rabbit strips-- and squirrel is often available in "micro strips" thinner than 1/8" wide. In addition to the smaller profile, squirrel doesn't pick up as much water as the longer softer rabbit fur so patterns tend to be a bit easier to cast.
On patterns like a Slumpbuster, especially on smaller sized hooks like 10's and 8's with a squirrel strip for the body/tail and a wound strip of squirrel used in a collar, the shape ends up looking a lot like a sculpin, with a wide head and slender tail. If the same fly was tied using rabbit strips in those sizes it would end up looking more like a meatball because of the longer hair.
On patterns like a Slumpbuster, especially on smaller sized hooks like 10's and 8's with a squirrel strip for the body/tail and a wound strip of squirrel used in a collar, the shape ends up looking a lot like a sculpin, with a wide head and slender tail. If the same fly was tied using rabbit strips in those sizes it would end up looking more like a meatball because of the longer hair.
seajay
Well-known member
J.Stockard has Squirrel Strips 3/32" item # nm-770033 in 8 colors.
silver creek
Well-known member
It is Wapsi which is not crosscut.
JS Fly Fishing: Rod Building, Fly Tying: Wapsi Squirrel Strips 3/32"
I checked with Wapsi for crosscut. You can see the direction of the cut which is with the grain. I think he needs to buy a whole skin and cross cut it himself.
http://www.wapsifly.com/pdffiles/wap/page 16.pdf
seajay
Well-known member
Thanks for the correction Silver. So a skin and a cutter seems to be the option.
hey peregrines,
i'm back. after my new computer crashed or went senile,
i'm back on line.trying to think of a interesting easy to tie pattern.
this slumper looks good. i got probably a half dozen squirrels skinned out and ready to go, so...
anyway, looking forward to tying something.
peregrine, i'll send a personal note
thanks for posting
buzz
buzz