Mink

[ak_powder_monkey]

so if all goes well I'll have a couple of mink skins tomorrow (if they are dumb enough to fall for canned tuna) anybody tie with them? Anybody have interest in buying tanned mink skins?

[halcyon]

The guard hair makes a particularly good tailing material for dry flies. The underfur is an excellent dubbing for small flies especially classic dry flies.

Regards,

[ak_powder_monkey]

thanks, you can also use them as zonker strips right? It needs to snow they are still being sneaky.

[BFK]

AK-- Mink is great as a dubbing, but for buggier appearance, leave the guard hairs in. The fly that got me started tying 40+ years ago was a nymph made with mink dubbing including the guard hairs. As for mink zonker strips--they're a lot like squirrel but with longer guard hairs. The hides will have to be tanned, though to get the flexibility. Dried skins, in my experience are too stiff.