Fly Tying Materials: Llama Hair

Llamas, the the cousin of alpacas, vicunas and guanacos, and thought to have been bred by the South American ancients to be the all purpose animal. Their fiber is used for garments, rugs, blankets, and the meat and hide used for food and goods. Finer fiber is called Alpaca and the courser fiber of either animal Llama.

Llamas have two types of fiber-guard hair and undercoat hair. The guard hair usually grows faster, is hollow, courser and straighter than the undercoat. These guard hair tends to effect snow and rain and help to run off water, debris tends not stick to the guard hair. The undercoat usually is finer, with much more crimp than the guard hair. These two factors create more loft which keep the llama warmer in winter by trapping in the body heat and in the summer allows the wind to cool the body better. Llamas represent the preeminent pack animal and are they are exceptionally strong, willing and calm. Llamas were bred for packing about 3,000 - 4,000 BC. The structure of their feet gives them enormous agility, while preventing damage to tracks.

For the Fly Tier, the Llama hair produces wonderful Dry Flies, with its hollow fiber, great streamer wings, super Dubbing, and Saltwater flies that start and finish with your imagination, the uses for these materials are endless.