On Saturday 05 January 2002 07:48 pm, Jim Speaker spoke: > I'm hoping someone can tell me how to properly use mohair yarn... > specifically, I'm trying to tie mini-leeches. The mohair fibers never stick > out right - they get flattened. I've tried plucking it out afterwards, > plucking it out as I go along, even pulling all the mohair off of the yarn > and adding to a dubbing loop, but it never looks right. > > I have a mini-leech that I bought at Kaufmann's and it looks way better than > anything I've managed to tie. The ends of the fibers stick out uniformly > and it tapers from front to back. What's the trick?
I was able to watch Phil Rowley tie a Mohair Leech up at the Lake Fly Fishing conference that I attended in the fall in Vancouver. I had the same problem before I watched him, and this is what I got: When tying the mohair forward, be careful to pull back all the strands to keep them from being tied over. After tying off the front of the fly, or before any hackle or toppings are added, brush all the mohair back with a velcro brush. Then groom the mohair, removing or clipping all the overly long strands until you get the look that you desire. A velcro brush is made from a toothbrush with all the bristles removed, with a piece of self-stick hook velcro replacing the bristles. Trim carefully so no velcro overhangs the brush edges. My leeches now look much better. Rob -- Rob Blomquist Kirkland, WA
