bucktail and other supplies

[Botanophilia]

Just curious where you guys get your jig/fly tying supplies.  I need to order more bucktail, usually buy from Netcraft but if anyone thinks there's some place better/cheaper...

[Denny Welch]

The quality of buck tails can vary a lot.  I like to buy mine from fly shops where I can inspect them before purchase.  I'm pretty fortunate because I've got three good shops within 15 minutes of my office.

[hawgthumper]

I gotta agree with Denny on this. I deal with Orvis a good deal, but BassPro and Cabela's would also be a good choice too.

[ctom]

Barlow's, lurepartsonline and lurecraft. Shop around for pricing but I'm in with Denny on finding a place locally where you can see what you're going to get.

[pjmcla]

Bucktail quality can vary a lot.  If you do not have a fly shop close; a call to a top end online fly shop is a good idea.  The number of jigs you get from a quality tail and the frustration of dealing with inadequate tails more than make up for the extra cost.   A lot of crappie jigs are tied with kip tails and the quality can vary a good bit here as well.   

[RonDon]

Guys you need to check out crazyanglertackle.com   Give Robert a holler.  Ive been dealing with him for a while for a lot of tying materials.  He'll give quantity discounts.

[CrabbyBass]

I have bought a couple of tails from Bass Pro where I was able to look at them before buying.  Bass Pro is pricey, but the tails are good quality.  I have bought a bunch from Jann's because they were a lot cheaper.  Some of the tails were good quality and some not so good.  Some tails seemed to last a bit longer than others.  Some have been skinny with not much hair on them and some have been fat with quite a bit of hair on them.  I would agree with everyone else.  Find a local shop where you can inspect before buying. 

[gone2long]

I don't tie but was wondering couldn't you hook up with a hunter buddy to get the freshest tails around or are they treated or something? I have friends that hunt all the time and I don't think the tails make it to the dinner table

[Denny Welch]

I don't know...Rosemary has fixed some meals that tasted like the tail end of a dead animal.

Seriously, there's a lot of work that goes into making a bucktail...killing, cleaning, tanning, bleaching and dying.  in the long run, i think it would be a whole lot easier to buy them.l

[andrewlamberson]

I'v been tying trout and bass bugs for over 40 years and the best materials shop...by far is Blue Ribbon Flies.

http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com

Not the cheapest....just the best.

Andy

[Denny Welch]

Ditto X2 re Blue Ribbon.  I've been there several times and it's like fly tying Nirvana.  Like Andy said, a little pricy, but quality materials.

[hawgthumper]

Ditto X2 re Blue Ribbon.  I've been there several times and it's like fly tying Nirvana.  Like Andy said, a little pricy, but quality materials.

But you only have to buy the best once..st least until you run out!

[softworm]

I don't tie but was wondering couldn't you hook up with a hunter buddy to get the freshest tails around or are they treated or something? I have friends that hunt all the time and I don't think the tails make it to the dinner table

Every deer hunter friend that I've got give me tails. There is not really all that much work into getting them ready to die or tie and I don't end up paying 5 bucks for one that you cant get but a few jigs out of. The main thing is getting them degreased and cleaned, I use dawn, wasing detergent and cheap fabric softener. Let 5 or 6 soak for 24 hours, rinse good and then scrape the fat off. I hang them on a line in my shop to dry and then put them in a storage container until needed. I've had some for over 5 years.

[Botanophilia]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!  Not aware of any place close by.  Gander Mountain used to carry supplies, but they dropped it all due to slow sales.  Haven't had a problem with stuff from netcraft, but it never hurts to find other sources.