What is Marabou Anyway? Fly Tying
Key Takeaways
- Marabou feathers are essential for fly tying, especially in patterns like woolly buggers and streamers, thanks to their soft texture and lifelike movement in the water.
- Marabou comes from the underside of a turkey, typically near the vent area, and is naturally gray before being dyed into vibrant colors for various fly patterns.
- Fly tying marabou adds unmatched realism and versatility, allowing anglers to craft flies that mimic leeches, nymphs, or other aquatic prey with irresistible motion.
- Using turkey feathers in fly tying promotes resourcefulness, as hunters can utilize everything from marabou plumes to tail and beard fibers for creative fly designs.
- Marabou bridges craft, culture, and conservation, blending traditional fly fishing artistry with sustainable hunting practices and a shared passion for the outdoors.
- Explore your creativity and connection to nature, using marabou for fly tying to craft not just flies—but memories—on your next Winding Waters adventure.
April 15th marks the end of spring steelhead season and until Memorial Day weekend, when trout season opens, fishing is not allowed in the rivers and creeks of NE Oregon. While anglers wait for the rivers to reopen, the Snake River in Hells Canyon remains a favorite for spring adventures and wildlife spotting.Anglers miss out on some great hatches during this time. Skwala and Yellow Sally Stoneflies make their appearance, but the real show is the Mother’s Day Caddis. If you are driving and your windshield is suddenly peppered with little green blobs, you have driven through a caddis hatch. These blobs are actually the egg sacks of the caddis and if you try to windshield wipe them away you will turn them into an epoxy strength smear that even the most enthusiastic gas station attendant will concede defeat against. Best to let them dry.
The end of everything is concurrently the beginning of something else and for sportsmen the end of steelhead is the beginning of spring black bear and turkey season. Spring bear hunters who draw either the Wenaha or Sled Springs tags are welcome to join Winding Waters on a supported bear hunting trip down the roadless section of the Grande Ronde. The scenic Grande Ronde River offers both hunting access and incredible rafting opportunities. If you didn’t draw a spring bear tag (I didn’t) you can buy a tag over the counter in Idaho or Montana or you can focus on Oregon’s Rio Grande Turkeys.
There are Easterns, Meriams, Osceola, Gould’s and Rio Grande Turkeys living wild in the United States. Meriams dominate much of the west but Oregon traded some elk for some turkeys a while back and the turkeys we have, except for a small batch of Meriams on Mount Hood, are the Rio Grandes.
The Truth About Marabou
Why pay $22.50 for a turkey tag when you can pay a comparable amount for a butterball at the store? In a word: marabou. That poofy feather you buy in bundles dyed in every color of 80’s fashion to tie undulating, pulsating, fish-catching flies comes from the underside of a turkey. What is marabou, exactly? It’s a soft, fluffy feather, naturally slate gray, that closely imitates a swimming leech for stillwater application.
Marabou and Fly Tying Essentials
Add some color and creativity, and you’ll find yourself limitless. Many would agree that the wooly bugger is responsible for catching more trout than any other fly. A fly box without a wooly bugger is no fly box at all. A responsible angler ought to keep one in their wallet. The thing that makes the wooly bugger so deadly is those wispy fibers of feather used in the tail—marabou feathers, specifically.
If you're wondering what are marabou feathers, they are soft plumes often found near the turkey’s vent area. These are essential for movement and lifelike action in water. Whether you're using marabou for fly tying or incorporating fly tying marabou into streamer patterns, the result is undeniable—big takes and bigger smiles.
The venerable muddler minnow uses fly tying turkey feathers from a turkey wing for the tail, and Dave Whitlock’s hopper uses it for the wing casing. Those iridescent bronze feathers from a turkey’s chest are well used on mayfly nymph patterns, and the fibers from his beard make good legs and tails on stonefly nymphs. You can even get creative by tying flies with turkey feathers you gathered yourself.
Feather Up Your Fly Box
We love seeing people use every part of the animal—maribou feathers, tail plumes, beard fibers, and all. Try adding feather marabou to your streamer tails, or even dress things up with marabou trim for a flashy accent. If you’re deep in the hobby and curious about what is marabou feather, it’s simply another name for that fluffy underfeather of a turkey or similar bird, often marketed in fly shops.
Hunters and anglers alike are showing off more unique creations. Think marabou feather boa streamers or even a full marabou coat of dubbing and hackle. Ever seen a marabou feather robe pattern? You should.
Fashion Meets Function
There’s a strange crossover between marabou fashion and fly fishing. You’ll see marabou in jackets, boas, cuffs—and in your fly tying kit. It’s beautiful, functional, and the next time you’re out scouting turkeys or rummaging through your fly box, consider how fly tying marabou connects nature, craft, and culture.
Spring Adventures with Winding Waters
If you did draw a bear tag and get a bear (color me green with envy), you might take some bear hair and tie a fly affectionately known in Montana as the brown bear brown, blonde bear blonde, black bear black…you see where this goes. There are many variations and people claiming to be the original producers, so I won’t play favorites. But George Grant, a true conservationist and fly-tying innovator, used bear hair to craft fly masterpieces.
While we may mourn this brief pause in fishing, there’s still sporting to be done. Get out this spring, harvest what you can, and tie something extraordinary. Post your fly-tying marabou or tying flies with turkey feathers creations to our Facebook page and bring them when you join us for a Whitewater Rafting trip this summer.
When the trout season reopens, the
Salmon River offers some of the most scenic stretches for early-summer fishing and rafting.
With fly tying materials like marabou for fly tying in your toolkit, you’re not just crafting flies—you’re tying memories, stories, and outdoor legacies. Whether you're chasing trout, turkeys, or just peace in nature, let
Winding Waters be part of your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about marabou and its role in fly tying, answered clearly and simply for anglers and fly-tying enthusiasts.
What is marabou in fly tying?
Marabou is a soft, fluffy feather typically found on the underside of a turkey. Naturally slate gray, it’s prized in fly tying for its lifelike movement underwater. When dyed in vibrant colors, marabou mimics leeches, minnows, and other aquatic creatures that attract fish.
Where do marabou feathers come from?
Despite the name, marabou feathers used in fly tying usually come from domestic turkeys, not marabou storks. They’re located near the bird’s vent area and are valued for their fine, flexible fibers that create natural motion in the water.
Why is marabou popular for fly tying?
Marabou’s soft, flowing texture creates a pulsating movement underwater that closely resembles the motion of baitfish or leeches. This lifelike action triggers strikes from trout, bass, and other fish species, making it one of the most effective fly-tying materials available.
What are the best flies to tie with marabou?
Marabou is essential in many classic patterns like the woolly bugger, leech, and streamer flies. It’s typically used for tails or bodies to add movement and volume. A fly box without a few marabou-based flies is considered incomplete by most anglers.
Can I collect marabou feathers from my own turkey?
Yes. If you hunt or raise turkeys, you can collect marabou feathers yourself. Focus on the soft plumes under the tail and around the vent area. Clean and dry them properly before tying, and you’ll have a natural, sustainable source of premium fly-tying material.
How do marabou feathers move in water?
When submerged, marabou fibers pulse and breathe with each twitch or current, imitating the movement of small aquatic life. This subtle, natural motion is what makes marabou flies so irresistible to fish in both still and moving water.
What’s the difference between marabou and other feathers used in fly tying?
Unlike stiff feathers such as hackle or quill, marabou is soft and flexible. It’s ideal for creating motion, whereas stiffer feathers are better for structure or flotation. Many effective patterns use both to balance form and action.
Are marabou feathers used outside of fly tying?
Yes. Marabou is also popular in fashion—used in boas, jackets, and accessories—because of its fluffy, elegant appearance. Its versatility bridges both function and aesthetics, making it a favorite among crafters, anglers, and designers alike.
What colors of marabou work best for fly tying?
Natural black, olive, and brown are great for imitating leeches and baitfish, while bright colors like chartreuse, pink, and white work well in attractor patterns. Many anglers experiment with different shades to match local conditions and fish behavior.
How can I use turkey feathers besides marabou in fly tying?
Turkey feathers are incredibly versatile. The wing feathers make great tails for muddlers and nymphs, the chest feathers add iridescent sheen, and beard fibers can be used as legs or tails on stonefly patterns. Almost every part of the turkey has a use in fly tying.
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