Groundhog Hairwing
Dressing
.
Hook: Kamasan B175 size 10 or 12, or
Fulling Mill 31531 black nickel.
Tail: Black cock.
Rib: Silver wire.
Body: Flat silver.
Body Hackle: Black hen.
Wing: Groundhog.
Hackle: Grizzle hen.
Thread: UTC - black.
Groundhog is very similar to squirrel, but a wee bit thicker and stiffer. It's quite beautifully marked - lots of shades and contrasts going on along the length of the hair, blending nicely with paractically any other materials you care to match it with. What I like about this stuff is it sits very comfortably with blacks, silvers etc, so I knocked up this wee number as an alternative to the red/brown/gold hues of the Hairwing Whickham etc. As a rule of thumb, I'd use the black & silver in good to poor light, as opposed to the red/brown/gold of the Whickham in good to bright light.