Fly Tying Tuesday: Zip Strips
If you tie streamer flies, you are going to want to see the new Zip Strips that are exclusively available at North 40 Fly Shop. Zip Strips are twisted rabbit strips with the hair still attached to the hide. Unlike Zonker Strips, you don’t have a hair side and a hide side. The strip is universally hairy and the hide is invisible. It’s like a perfect dubbing brush without a thread or wire core. The core is the natural hide, thinned and twisted.
Zip Strips have a little stiffness when dry, but when they get wet, the hide gets soft. I swam a fly in the fly tester tank (for a week) with a Zip Strip tail and body. I kept expecting it to unwind or loose shape, but it swam like a champ. You’ve really got to see Zip Strips in action to appreciate what they can do. When I think of all the sculpin and rabbit strip fly patterns I’ve tied over the years, I sure wish I would have had access to this stuff. It looks amazing in the tank and the guys who are tying flies with them are reporting great results.
Thanks for checking out the Blog and reaching out to us about this product. I see that you would like to have some Zip Strips delivered to the Coeur d'Alene store. Unfortunately we are not looking to stock this item in the CDA store but we do have them available online at North40.com. Ordering them this way will have them sent directly to your house which means less time driving to the store and more time tying. :)
We have actually added a link in the blog above that will take you to the Zip Strips on our website. So just click the big orange button that says "Buy Online" and you will be all set.
I hope this helps you get the Zip Strips to your doorstep. I have also been working my way through the tying videos we have recorded looking for a pattern to tie up and try out. With streamer season upon us I have been asking Fred about some of his favorite streamer patterns and he said anything with fur or flash will be alright. The Zip Strips are a great option if you are a fan of the fur, after reading the blog and seeing this swim I will have to go pick me up a pack or two. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I would be happy to get you some more information.
Happy tying,
J