Boy do you guys have any idea how hard it is to get Polar Bear?

I never thought about it really and didn't think I would want any until I got to see some and boy it's very different and has very nice reflective properties. Had a guy send me a present when I bought his DVD and it has Polar Bear for the tail. Now I never thought it was real hair until I chatted with him through email. Then I started looking for some and man there is almost no way and any here had to come only in very restrictive ways since the USA banded the shipping of it here.

Anyway found a little and am tickled to death, but man a little cost a bunch IMHO! I may have posted this little jig before, but see it again below.

Skip

This is a jig that was tied by DonO that does the Ropedub teaching and is very good. Anyone remember that shrimp I posted? His too. He told me this was one to hold on to and not a fishing jig!
Attachment 50277

I do not think you can buy polar bear hair anywhere . Yes I have not seen it in any of the fly tying supply catalogs or online . Yes it would deftly cost you a bundle of money to get a small chunk.

Thats what doll flies used to be made of, I was told. I have fished with a few of the ones I have and they work different than any others. The catfish like em too!! Never thought that I would tie with any, so it's funny you should be looking for some. With their habitat going away and the Eskimo lifestyle being centered around it I would imagine it is pricey. Anything rubbing against politically correct makes you dip into your pocket. Show more when you get em. The one pictured looks good.

This comes up alot on fly tying boards and if you can find it make darn sure you get paperwork with it!!!!!!! Where it came from, proof that it's pre-ban etc etc.

You can buy legal polar bear hair here but it's expensive: Zonkers, Fox, Bear, Yak, Hair's Mask

Fatman

Have 5 pieces that were bought back about 1960 something I have kept it in a glass jar with mothballs. After read this post I had to go out and take a look at it. Yes it is pretty. Will I ever tie a jig with it ? Maybe just to say that I have one. I am sure that it cost me dearly back then as I was maybe like 13 or so. Working after school to buy tying material to feed my bad habit. And fishing Sunday afternoon to satisfly my other habit.

I am sure there is some still out there. And the right now some Eskmo is warm under a polar bear robe blanket.

Redman

I've never seen any polar bear fur. LRB sent me some black bear and it is softer than I thought it would be. She also sent me some moose. You could use a moose hair as a toothpick. LOL It would do good for a weedguard.

That a nice jig Skip. Would be good to have one just to display.

Yes I am going to keep this one since he tied it and probably put it behind some glass, framed ro something like that.

I was able to find a little, but will only use it for special things. Have the reciept, but not sure that is enough so will ask more. I got about 10 colors and my friend also gave me a small chunk of premo natural white with I will cherish. Boy it's awesome! Maybe I will make a few special ties with it to put behind glass with his????

You can find it in Canada, but can't ship it here to the US. I don't know what else is needed to be legal with some that was getting made into a rug or even if you can. I do know if you look up Polar Bear Rugs there are some for sale, but not here that I know of and boy talk about high cost. If I remember right a 10' one was like $20,000.00, LOL!

To me the hair looks more synthetic since it has a shine and would not mistake this any longer after seeing some. Really neat stuff it is!

Another friend just shot a bear, not sure what kind, but it's at the taxidermist so maybe I better hit him up for scraps since he said it has a red shade look, but not Polar bear for sure!

Thanks for the link Fatman, but already spent a enough on a few nice color pieces.
Skip

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Redman

Have 5 pieces that were bought back about 1960 something I have kept it in a glass jar with mothballs. After read this post I had to go out and take a look at it. Yes it is pretty. Will I ever tie a jig with it ? Maybe just to say that I have one. I am sure that it cost me dearly back then as I was maybe like 13 or so. Working after school to buy tying material to feed my bad habit. And fishing Sunday afternoon to satisfly my other habit.

I am sure there is some still out there. And the right now some Eskmo is warm under a polar bear robe blanket.

Redman

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It may have been less costly and easier to get then because the ban was put on in the 1970's sometime. I had no clue this was as it is, but boy I sure like the looks of that stuff!

Your luck to have a little so keep it safe!

Skip

That jig looks too nice to fish Skip. I agree with your idea of displaying it in your tying room somewhere.