Finn Raccoon Fur

An Essential Asset for Fly Tying

Among the most appreciated natural materials by fly tyers, Finn Raccoon fur holds a special place. Soft, vibrant, and visually rich, it offers an ideal combination of movement and texture that adapts to a wide variety of fly patterns. Its success is explained as much by its aesthetic qualities as its performance.

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Chris is talking about the finn raccoon and highlights why it's an excellent product.

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A bit of history

Despite its name, the Finn Raccoon, is not a true raccoon. It is actually a canine native to East Asia — particularly China, Korea, and Japan — belonging to the same family as foxes. It was introduced to Europe, where it has particularly well established itself in Finnish forests, hence its commercial name.

Its appearance resembles that of the North American raccoon, notably due to its characteristic black facial mask, which partly explains the confusion in its name.

The unique qualities of Finn Raccoon fur

What makes Finn Raccoon fur so sought after is its structure in two distinct layers

A dense and silky underfur, which serves as a base and adds volume to the fly.
Long and mobile guard hairs, which add life and pulsation to the fly in water.

This contrast between density and lightness allows for dynamic and realistic fly patterns. The length of the fibers, generally between 2.5 to 4 inches (6.5 and 10 cm), is perfectly suited to a wide variety of patterns. The dyeing is done from white skins, which allows for beautiful bright colors and a wide variety.

Applications in fly tying

Finn Raccoon fur adapts to many types of flies. Here are some common uses:

Salmon flies (Scandinavian style): Ideal for tube fly tying, the fur gives long, mobile, and very lively wings. It reacts perfectly to the current and creates a fluid swim, particularly effective on migratory fish.
Shrimp or crustacean imitations: The stiffer guard hairs very well imitate the antennae or legs of crustaceans. This type of pattern is often used to target marine fish or coastal trout.
Leeches: In freshwater, the fur allows for realistic leeches that swim with a beautiful pulsation. It’s an excellent choice for trout, pike, or even walleye.

Finn Raccoon vs Arctic Fox: What are the differences?

When talking about natural furs used in fly tying, Finn Raccoon and Arctic Fox are often compared. Although they share certain uses, they present notable differences that influence the final rendering of the flies.

Texture and density

Finn Raccoon: Dense underfur and long guard hairs, perfect for pulsating effect and volume.
Arctic Fox: Finer and silkier hairs, with a softer and more compact texture.

Fiber length

Finn Raccoon: Long fibers (up to 10 cm), ideal for large flies or intruder patterns.
Arctic Fox: Shorter fibers (about 4 to 7 cm), better suited to small flies and compact patterns.

Behavior in water

Finn Raccoon: Marked and undulating movement, very attractive in currents.
Arctic Fox: Softer and fluid swim, perfect for discreet presentations.

Dyeing and visual appearance

Finn Raccoon: Excellent capacity to retain bright colors.
Arctic Fox: Softer and natural dyes, with a often more sober rendering.

FINN RACCOON

ARCTIC FOX

Recommandations

Whether you are already an adept of Scandinavian tying or looking for a natural material to enrich your patterns, Finn Raccoon fur deserves a special place in your bins. Its versatility and ability to bring your flies to life make it a formidable ally, whether in river, lake, or sea.

And if you hesitate between Finn Raccoon and Arctic Fox, let your needs dictate your choice: volume and movement on one side, finesse and subtlety on the other. Better yet, keep both at hand — each will find its place at the tip of your vise.

Finn Raccoon

- FLY PATTERNS

Flies tied by our tying partners' team

Tied by ; Troy Murray

Tiger Ghost

Hook - Partridge M2
Tag - Uni Oval Tinsel
Butt - Uni Stretch - Chartreuse
Body - SHOR Tiger Ghost Body
Wing - White under Chartreuse Shor Finn Raccoon topped with Shor Temple Dog. Finished with Pearl Flashabou.
Hackle - SHOR Heron and Silver Pheasant.
Eyes - Jungle Cock
Thread - Textreme Standard 8/0 black

Tied by ; Adrian Vidal

Foxee Dog

Thread: Textreme Standard 6/0 red. Aqua Flies Poly Tube 3mm.
Tail: Angel hair Tag: Small Oval Tinsel & Glo Bright Floss.
Rib: Medium Oval Tinsel
Body: Textreme Flat Tinsel Body
Hackle: SHOR hackle.
Front Hackle: SHOR Guinea
Wings: SHOR Finn Raccoon Orange & White, Peacock Herl.
Eyes: Jungle Cock

Tied by ; Julian Reedle

Blue and pink intruder

Tail - orange crystal flash, Black and clear silky legs, eyes optional. Body - oranges crystal flash wrapped forward with pearl diamond braid over with UV loon clear to coat.
Overwing - pearl crystal flash with tan Finn raccoon, yellow dumbbell eyes suited for whatever depth you’ll be fishing and black and clear silky legs in front of the eye of the hook.
Hook - size 4 partridge sea prince.
Thread- textream 6/0 orange standard thread

Tied by ; Evan Gillis

Attitude extra 2/0. Finn raccoon for the tail in white and chartreuse, pearl flat braid for the body. Finn raccoon again and one spin of white deerbody hair.