Hareline Complete Coyote Tail gives you the entire tail, so you get the full spectrum of fiber types in one piece—fine, crisply tapered tips from the end, medium-stiff mid-tail fibers, and longer, softer hair near the base with dense underfur for dubbing. The natural, variegated barring (tans, grays, and muted browns) reads as convincingly “alive,” adding instant sculpin, shrimp, and baitfish camouflage without markers or dyes. Because it’s the complete tail, you can tune your fly’s stiffness, profile, and movement by simply choosing where you cut. Guard hairs are straight, moderately stiff, and not hollow, so they hold shape without flaring like deer. The underfur spins beautifully in dubbing loops, and the fibers stack cleanly for tidy wings. It sheds water reasonably well, sinks at a moderate rate, and takes dye if you want brighter options. How to Use It Pick a clump from the section that matches your goal: tail-end for crisp, short fibers (nymph tails and small hairwings), mid-tail for general streamer wings, base for longer, softer collars. Comb out the underfur, then either hand-align or use a stacker if you want sharp tips. Secure with tight pinch wraps on a thread base; a small drop of thin cement at the tie-in locks it down. Because the hair isn’t hollow, it won’t spin—use it for wings, tails, and collars, not spun heads. To reduce fouling, keep wings sparse, add a short anti-fouling loop, or slightly stiffen the first 3–4 mm with UV resin. For dubbing, blend the underfur with a touch of synthetic sparkle or guard hairs for extra spike, then trap it in a loop and brush. For saltwater patterns, rinse after use to preserve natural oils. On steelhead and trout hairwings, measure 1–1.5× hook shank past the bend and keep the clump sparse; for streamers, taper two clumps—shorter first, longer second—to build a layered profile. Example Flies CLOUSER MINNOW (COYOTE WING): Use white bucktail for the belly, then add flash and a sparse tan coyote wing on top, extending 1.5× the shank. Size 2–6 with appropriately sized dumbbell eyes will ride hook-point up. The coyote’s natural barring softens the silhouette and slows the sink slightly versus all-bucktail, which shines for smallmouth in rivers and for surf zones where a subtler descent gets more eats. LOW WATER STEELHEAD HAIRWING: On sizes 4–8, build a slim body (tinsel rib over floss), a short throat hackle, then a sparse coyote wing 1–1.25× the shank. Choose tip hair from the tail for crisp taper. The moderate stiffness resists collapsing, tracks straight on the swing, and the mottling adds life without overwhelming flash—perfect for clear flows and pressured fish. GOTCHA SHRIMP (COYOTE VARIANT): On a size 4–6 saltwater hook with bead-chain eyes, tie a sparse tan coyote wing over pearl body braid and a few strands of flash. The natural banding suggests legs and carapace shading over turtlegrass, and the slightly firmer fibers hold a low, slim profile that lands softly for skittish bonefish in calf-deep water. Why We Like It One tail covers a lot of ground: fine tips for small hairwings, mid-body fibers for all-purpose streamers, base hair for longer, softer collars, and underfur for dubbing. The built-in mottling delivers contrast and depth you can’t fake with a marker, and the natural taper makes it easy to get clean silhouettes and consistent lengths. It’s a practical, durable, and economical choice—sparse amounts go a long way, and it integrates seamlessly with bucktail, flash, and soft hackle. The moderate stiffness reduces fouling while still breathing on the swing or strip, which translates to more stable tracking and a lifelike pulse in varied currents. Comparable Materials Bucktail is longer and stiffer with cleaner, solid colors—great for high-speed, anti-fouling wings—but it lacks coyote’s variegation and subtle movement. Arctic fox tail is softer and shorter, collapsing more for maximum motion on hairwings and collars, though it can foul more easily and won’t hold a crisp taper like coyote. Raccoon tail offers even more mobility and length but can mat when over-dressed. If you want sharp taper and barred realism without the full stiffness of bucktail, coyote sits in the sweet spot.
