Coyote fur is a popular material in fly tying, valued for its natural look, durability, and versatility. Its natural shades of tan, cream, gray, brown, and black blend seamlessly with various underwater environments, making it ideal for mimicking sandy and mottled bottoms. The durability of coyote fur ensures that it resists fouling and holds up well over time.
Its versatility is notable, as coyote fur can be used for a range of fly tying applications, including wings, buggy legs, and EP foxy brushes. Full pieces of coyote fur can be used to tie hundreds of flies, while smaller pieces offer an economical option. The fur includes long guard hairs, perfect for creating wings, and soft underfur, which is excellent for dubbing.
Several fly patterns utilize coyote fur effectively. The Calypso Coyote is a tarpon fly that employs the coarse fibers of coyote hair to maintain a baitfish profile and black-tipped guard hairs to mimic a finger mullet’s tail. The Coq N’ Coyote pattern uses a coyote mask for a soft hackle body, while the Acme Special nymph pattern blends coyote tail underfur dubbing. The Coyote Dace micro streamer pattern features coyote fur for the wing, complemented by bucktail accents.
The coyote (Canis latrans), also known as the American jackal or prairie wolf, is a canine native to North America. It is smaller than the gray wolf and similar in size to the eastern wolf and red wolf. Coyotes have 19 recognized subspecies and typically weigh between 7 to 20 kg (15 to 44 lb), with size varying geographically. Their fur is predominantly light gray and red, interspersed with black and white, and varies somewhat depending on their habitat. Northern coyotes generally have longer, denser fur compared to their southern counterparts. Coyotes possess a bushy tail, a white facial mask, and are known for their adaptability in social organization, living either in family units or loose packs.
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