Wapsi Fly's Streamer Hair also known as Icelandic sheep has recently become one of my favorite materials to tie large streamer and bait fish patterns with.  I've always been a big fan of synthetic materials and use them on a pretty regular basis, but there is something about the extra long soft fibers of Icelandic sheep that moves in the water unlike any material I know of. 


The Icelandic breed is one of the hardiest sheep of Northern Europe and exhibit a dual coat of wool to protect it from the harsh winters.  The hair is long and tapered making it perfect for tying large flies.


Wapsi Fly's Icelandic sheep called "streamer hair" comes in two different types depending on the package.  One type is long and wavy and the hair ranges from 6-9 inches.

The second type is shorter and ranges from 3-5 inches and features a more crinkly texture. The shorter material works very well for adding bulk to minnow patterns while the longer straighter hair makes for nice over-wings and flowing streamer bodies.


 Streamer hair blends easily with synthetics and makes it simple to create custom blends and to adjust the amount of movement your fly has in the water.  It comes in a nice range of colors and is inexpensive when compared to modern synthetic materials.  For larger patterns it is a good idea to tie in a loop of heavy mono to keep the hair from fouling the hook.  You can also use small clumps of stiff synthetic fibers to help keep the streamer hair in place.  For shorter patterns I have not had any problem with the hair getting tangled.  You can find Wapsi Fly Streamer Hair at well stocked fly shops or online.  Because of the different textures I always buy steamer hair at a local fly shop.  That way I can select either the long or short hair depending on my tying needs.

Disclosure- Wapsi Fly provided the featured products free of charge for me to review. I was not compensated in any other way for this blog post.