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3. DST Quills - Explained and Samples

In another thread the poster asked what 'DST Quills' were. I identified the acronym and here's an explanation of the material itself:

DST(Dyed Specially Treated) Quills are actually peccary/javalina hairs. I search for a very specific type of hair quality. For these 'quills', the skins I seek must have a large patch of hair that's at least 5 inches long. The hair must also have a white/cream base of a good 2 inches so there'll be enough of the quill with the dyed color to work with. Much shorter and finer hairs are used for tails, feelers, antennae and legs. Anyway, once I get the skin I treat it in a special way, dye it in a way that does not harm the inherent property of the hairs, and then treat it again. The treatments make the quills/hairs easier to dye, softer, and more pliable. I think it makes them stronger but I can't be sure about that. There's no question that they are much stronger then peacock or stripped hackle quill, are much easier to work with and offer similar segmentation to the stripped hackle but truthfully not quite the same as the peacock.
I hope I've explained these DST Quills well enough. If anyone would like to try a sample pack with various colors, just email or PM your snail mail address to me. All I ask is that, after you've tyed with the material as suggested in the accompanying 'tying tips' sheet, you let me know what you honestly think of it.

Allan

For anyone who's wondering, I usually don't allow people to pitch commercial products here, but Allan asked me beforehand for permission, and what he had to say was pretty interesting & relevant to what others were wondering in another thread.

Allan I'm curious, how do you come across a variety of peccary/javalina hairs to peruse? Do you travel to South America or are there North American breeders? I've never heard of them used for fly tying, but it sounds like something fun to try.

@Allan,
I used to use a product called McCleans (-sp?) quills and then my local provider could no find them. How do these compare?


@ Troutnut
A local guy once extolled the virtues of peccary/javalina although he was using it for legs on realistic nymphs and antennae on caddis. I bet the folks in Wes Texas would be glad to have a use for the javalina. From what I understand they are quite the destructive force and not very good for eating.
JW

I would like some samples of the DST quills and will PM you, Allan.
I used "natural" peccary for years as antennae in caddis pupae and adults and never even thought about wrapping them as a "quill" type body.
Like JohnW, I use "Freestone Flies McLean's Quill Body" (Rawlins, WY) which I believe is porcupine. It doesn't flatten well enough on small hooks because I have to use too much pressure and I will weaken, bend and sometimes break the hook enough to make them a frustration for me. They work well with larger patterns and come in shades to match most hatches in 12-18.
For smaller flies, I use "D's Flyes Quills II" (Denver, CO) which need to be soaked before use. These work well on sizes 18-22 but are harder to use and seem quite fragile - splitting/cracking/breaking with any tension other than "correct" tension. And that seems to vary with each individual quill.
They both look great when done correctly, but they must be coated with head cement both before and after they are wrapped. Kind of pain in the ass for me as I like to be able to crank out a dozen flies of the same pattern in 20-30 minutes, but most importantly, they give my flies a very thin and ribbed abdomen that is difficult to reproduce with anything other than biots.
I'm too lazy (really just an excuse) to use the best tool for the job - a stripped peacock. I have seen them at Phil Baldacchino's Kettle Creek Tackle Shop - natural and dyed. If Goose and I make it up there in the fall, I'll pick some up and let you know what I think.
I look forward to trying out the DST quills, as well.
Sorry for the ramble...

Answering some questions:

Jason - "how do you come across a variety of peccary/javalina hairs to peruse? Do you travel to South America or are there North American breeders? I've never heard of them used for fly tying, but it sounds like something fun to try".

--- I've tried to make some contacts among taxidermists in the SW. I try and explain what type of hair I need and ask if they have a skin with hair that meets my description. When I get what I've bought, if the skin has hair that's good, it gets used. If not, it gets tossed.

John W - "I used to use a product called McCleans (-sp?) quills and then my local provider could no find them. How do these compare?"

--- McCleans product is actually 'porcupine guard hairs', not quills. I have not used it but they and my DST quills are significantly different. But I'll let you be the judge.

Gutcutter -

I suspect that the narrower the 'quill', be it McClean's product or my DSTs, the smaller fly it's possible to tye. As you said, the larger flies, sizes say 10 - 16, seem most easily tyed. Smaller stuff, say 18 - 20 are tougher and you have to play with the material(as I describe in the TIP sheet). Then in the even smaller sizes you probably need to find an alternative. However, if someone does tye in the 20 and smaller range, I can prepare DST Quills from much finer raw material, same animal, which will exceed the quality of the material they now use. A tyer does not need 2+ inches of colored quill for a size 22, 24, 26 size fly. A 'quill' with a usable color length of 3/4 or 1/2 inch long will wrap flies that small.
But you try it and you be the judge.

Hope the above information helps.

Allan

Allan,
PM inbound.

THought I'd dredge this one up as I recently rediscovered the sample pack Allan had sent me.
I have had quite a nice time tying with these and the really are a step above the traditional stripped hackle quill. They flatten out very nicely and I was able to get several flies out of a single quill. They are nowhere near as fussy in terms of needing an absolutely smooth base either. Although I do recommend getting the base as smooth as you can.
AS for durability while fishing I am well pleased. I left a few "unfinished to see how they would hold up and the testing was somewhat inconclusive as the fly was lost to trees or fish before a sufficient sample size was obtained. For those I did "treat" i applied a very thin coat of loon UV knot sense and they are about bomb proof. THe wings and hackle are gone and the bodies look pretty much pristine.
Your milage may vary, but I like em.
JW

JW, and others, I too liked them.

I first heard of peccary, probably in the same place Tony did, from Chris Helm. I purchased them for split tails on smaller flies.