Polar Bear Fur

[toddsbernina]

A guy who i used to tie with stopped fishing because his kids didn't enjoy it so he found other hobbies to spend time with his kids. at any rate i got his tying stuff and i got a patch of polor bear fur i've had it now for 3 years and i dont know what patterns to use it in, and what furs I could it i similliar enought to it that i can use it as a sub for. does anyone have suggestions maybe some older tiers that used it before it was banned. is it even legal for me to have?

any input would be greatly appricaated.

Todd

[Drag-Free Drift]

Congratulations. It's wonderful stuff. It handles beautifully, ties down nicely and doesn't tend to flair the way some other hair does. It seems to undulate better than other natural or imitation hair and has a translucence that nothing else can imitate. It's also very straight, not kinky like calf tail. You're very lucky to have some. Many patterns, especially those out of sources that are a few years old or more, call for "polar bear or substitute" for tails and wings on streamers, steelhead flies, salmon flies, etc. Anyplace you'd normally use bucktail, calf tail, bear, and so on, you can use the polar bear of the same color instead. As to whether or not you can legally use it, it seems to me that you can use polar bear hair that was imported before the ban (don't know just how long ago that was, but it's many years agi). Every now and then I see some (that was imported before the ban) for sale still in fly shops. Of course, it's pretty expensive. I do have some, and as you might expect I love to use it, but I do so sparingly. I recently tied up a few salt water streamers with it, for example.

Your lucky to have it. Now go tie up some flies!

--Roy

[toddsbernina]

right on. you have been a huge help.

Thanks

Todd

[Randy Diefert]

try looking on some canadian websites. They have allot of patterns listed and less Peta people freaking out!
That's really who got the ban going in the US but, then that's another subject entirely.
I saw some patterns tyed with it in the new issue of Fly tyer magazine too. Look in the Stamp article. I does make the best Mickey Finns that you've ever seen;)

[Mike Wade]

Great stuff:I have numerous swatches dyed different colors.lGreat to work with.Polar bear is for sale in local fly shops ,so I didn't think there was a ban anymore.Very expensive though.

[Daryle Holmstrom]

I still have a bit from years ago before the ban. Nice to tie with.

Daryle

[FT]

The ban on importing polar bear skins or fur into the US began on January 1st, 1972. In fact, the only folks who can legally kill one in the US are either US wildlife agents or Alaskan Eskimos.

As to legality to use it. If it was brought into the US prior to Janauary 1, 1972, it is entirely legal to possess or use. The legal limitation on possession or bringing it into the US are exactly why if you are lucky enough to find some for sale in the US, it is very expensive. The last legal stuff I saw was selling for $10.00 a square inch. As to how to know if some you are considering buying in the US is legal or not (and if not legal, any amount, no matter how small can have you arrested by the US Marshall's Service, FBI, Customs, or US Wildlife agent and face up to $10,000.00 fine for each piece you have along with up to 10 years in a federal prison for each piece too) is to ask the seller for a copy of the certificate of proof that it was brought into the US prior to January 1, 1972. If the seller won't or claims he can't provide you with a copy of this certificate, I personally don't think it is worth the risk of buying it.

Also, keep in mind that just because polar bear is legal in Canada, you cannot buy some up in BC and legally bring it across the border. If it is found during a customs check, you can be arrested and then face the $10,000.00 fine and possible federal jail time.

Yak hair is a decent substitute, as is mountain goat hair.

Todd,

It sounds like the polar bear you have dates from before the ban. Polar bear is the prefered material for any of the hair wing steelhead wets because it is semi-translucent and thus both reflects light and allows some to pass through. Just remember when using polar bear to wing a hairwing steelhead wet to use small amounts because those two unique properties of it. I'd personally really like to see the ban on importing it modified to allow skins from polar bear harvested by Eskimos or Canadian hunters or Aboriginals to be brought into the US as long as the skin has the proper cetification showing it was legally harvested. Then we would all be able to get to use some of this truly outstanding material.

[ibn]

I would use polar bear for tying baitfish patterns on tube flies. You would be able to re-use the same fly several times if the hook rusts or goes dull, I'd feel bad tossing out a fly with polar bear on it because the hook is shot.

[Tim Cottage]

There is an allowance on polar bear and some other materials if it is used as a component of aboriginal art objects. I do not know all the details concerning the legality but I do know that some people have taken advantage of this allowance and that some of that hair has then been re-sold for fly tying.

Due to the previously mentioned light gathering and light reflecting or refracting qualities, some polar bear fur is really special stuff. As FT said, a little of the right stuff goes a long way.

Something to think about:
It is important to understand that because polar bears are such highly specialized animals living in an extreme climate their fur is equally specialized.
Not all polar bear fur is created equally.
There are probably four or five distinctly different fur types on their legs and feet alone.
I have seen polar bear fur that was not much different from calf tail. It possessed non of the translucency that the fur is famous for. The point being that because it is from a polar bear does not necessarily mean that it has all those legendary qualities. Those qualities mostly come from the thick guard hairs.

If your patch of hair has any underfur, be sure to comb it out and save it to be used as course dubbing.

TC

[Banzai]

I have some Polar bear that I purchased a few years ago at a garage sale in little plastic boxes from Shoff's Tackle. I'd like to assume that these are pre-ban and legal, but the penalty seems a bit steep...

[adiposfin]

Hello All,

We just though that we would mention our favourite polar bear fly. Without a doubt this pattern is our number one salmon fly, I also fish smaller versions for trout. The "Coho Blue" was originally tied by Roderick Haig-Brown....though we have adapted ours a little bit. I can't agree more about the qualities of Polar Bear....there is absolutely no true replacement for it. Fortunately we still have access (Canada) to both PB and seal fur......though there has been "grumblings" for us to follow suit with our southern neighbours. Anyway....I've attached a link..........:thumb:

http://www.adiposflytying.com/sitebuilder/images/cohobluesmall-434x327.jpg

For all those interested tyers out there, we have also completed two online catalogues for easy reference to some great salmon, steelhead, and coastal trout patterns. Some are old traditional "industry standards", others are new creations. No tying instructions but we are always happy to share any details!;)


canadiantubeflies@shaw.ca

[FT]

Tim,

Although it is true that there is an exception to possession of polar bear for aboriginal art or craft making use, it only allows Eskimos or Native American Alaskans (Alaskan Indians-yes there are both Eskimos and Alaskan Indians in Alaska) to possess to raw fur in the US. After it has been put into art by one of these two ehtnic groups of people, it is legal to possess. However, as soon as you take the fur off the art or craft item and put it to use tying flies, you have broken the law.

As I stated previously, unless you have a copy of the certificate stating the polar bear was harvested prior to January 1, 1972, you can be arrested, prosecuted by the feds, and fined or jailed for having it in your possession.

I am aware that there are some fly shops who have polar bear hidden in the back (and sometimes in the closet at home or in a storage unit) that sell to folks they know. I also know that some of these shops tell folks that the polar bear they have for sale came from Alaskan native art or craft items, so it is legal, desite taking it off the art or craft item to resell being illegal. As I said previously, ask the shop owner or employee to see the certificate of proof of harvest prior to January 1, 1972 (and don't forget to get a copy of it from him if you buy some). If the owner or employee doesn't have the certificate (or a copy of it), a person is really taking a huge chance it he buys it. By the way, I've never met a shop owner or employee who is selling legal polar bear that gets upset, angry, or insulted when you ask for the certificate of proof of harvest prior to January 1, 1972.

Just like heron, it isn't worth the risk to have or buy polar bear if you cannot proof what you have was harvested prior to January 1, 1972.

Now if someone you know has a polar bear skin or rug on his floor or wall and he wants to give it away, by all means take it. Just make sure you get the certificate of harvest proof to keep yourself legal.

[Tim Cottage]

FT

My post was intended to be purely informational. To provide some insight into how some of these prohibited materials find their way into the tyers market. I did not intend to advocate or encourage the purchase or use of illegal or even questionalbly legal materials.

Thanks for clarifying the issue.

Tim

[FT]

Tim,

I never thought for one second that you were advocating the use of illegal materials, expecially since you had posted in the past like I have that folks ought to leave the illegal stuff alone because it isn't worth the risk. I just thought it be a good service to those who don't know to have more information on polar bear.

[scotch]

You make it sound so complicated. I've always just held the bear in a headlock while my wife shaves it's butt a bit and we go about our business. Never had any trouble with the Feds either, which by the way make some pretty good flies too!

Scotch

[Tony]

You can find it legal for sale from some suppliers if you search, I don't know anything about permits or proof I just figure if a large name material suppliers name is on the package and its labeled as polarbear it must be ok, I got lucky awhile back and found a pretty good patch at a little junk shop I stopped at.
tony