The Semperfli Swiss Straw Synthetic Raffia is a tremendous synthetic substitute for raffia in a host of artificial fly patterns. This fly tying material is perfect for wing cases, scud backs, and emerger wings in both caddis and mayfly patterns. Semperfli Swiss Straw Synthetic Raffia is available in cream, green, grey, yellow, hot pink, baby pink, jade, black, orange, brown, red, sky blue, dark blue & straw colours.
Many fly patterns both classic and modern call for raffia, a material harvested from a species of palm tree generally found in Africa, Madagascar, or Central and South America. If you don’t have any on hand, Semperfli Swiss Straw Synthetic Raffia is a tremendous synthetic alternative that easily substitutes for raffia in any fly pattern. Use Semperfli Swiss Straw for convincing wing cases, segmented scud backs, and even emerger wings in both caddis and mayfly patterns.
The Semperfli Swiss Straw Synthetic Raffia is very strong, almost impossible to tear crosswise, but can be easily separated lengthwise. Always cut out the required amount with scissors, don’t tear it! By twisting your prepared Swiss Straw strip in the middle you will find it a lot easier to tie in place. Fix Swiss Straw with figure-8 wraps behind the eye in the spent position, and then pull backward and wrap the base, use tent shaped Swiss Straw for sedge wings or flat for spinner wings or standing up for mayfly wings. You can also use Swiss Straw for nymph wing cases on stone flies or the backs on your scuds and Czech nymphs. You can colour or make mottled patterns using permanent markers making this a highly versatile material.