MyFishFinder Tips and Techniques > Jigging

coloring raw bucktails

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griff:
I have about 60 deer tails and was wondering if anyone has tried dying there own bucktails?

Boomer:
I have been told this is not very hard to do. I, too, have considered doing this. I have heard of using Kool-Aid and vinegar???  Probably need to ask either on here or a flyfishing website how to do this.  I would be interested in your results.

OTIS:
Uuum, ya, drink the kool-aid.  Dye the tails with this http://www.ritdye.com/.

esox_xtm:
x2 on the Rit fabric dye. I've dyed dozens of tails for tying musky bucktails.

All the colors come out excellent except black . >:( The orange is very bright, the chartreuse is outstanding, brown is deeply fabulous and grey is right where I like it. Even red comes out a nice deep scarlet. Black? A putrid purplish, greenish crappy mess.

Don't ask me why, I've never found an answer. My tails are squeaky clean to start. I've done salt, vinegar and hot baths. I even cooked a batch right off the skin trying to get a nice totally jet black. For cryin' out loud, the standard for musky bucktails is black. I'll bet black outnumbers all the other colors combined and I can't get there. I finally resigned myself to either trading or selling the ones I could color for the commercial black. If you come across a secret and share it with me I'd be forever in your debt.........

That said, just a few of experience points:
* Make sure all dirt, fat and blood are cleaned from the tails you want to color.

* Salt will not have a negative effect on coloring with Rit dye. I think there's some salt right in the stuff. Some extra salt helps the tail take and hold color.
* I've used an old Dutch oven (or similar) on a camp stove outside. Heating dead animal parts in the house does not go over well......  ::)
* Don't overcook 'em. Hot water is good, boiling not so much, see above..... I have "recooked" some that either didn't turn out well the first time through with success
* Some vinegar in the solution helps set the color
That about covers it. Hope this gets you going in the right direction. Good luck with your project!

/m

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