The only downside to turmeric is that it fades very rapidly. No legit textile artist would use it. In the past people would simply re-dye clothing. For fly tying this probably doesn't matter.

Years ago I experimented with picric acid as a dye. I dyed a pine squirrel skin. I found the color to be garish and unpleasant to look at. As a dyer who uses mostly natural dyes; I still have to use a lot of chemicals. The advantage of turmeric is that it is a food. It doesn't require the use of any...

Some people might like the Bay.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Irish-fly-supp ... =R40&rt=nc

The bottom right of the picture shows some mohair dyed with turmeric. I used alum which makes it more golden. Acid gives a brighter yellow.

They're hard to find now but Darrel Martin had his own line of sneck hooks.


Darrel Martin smut hooks
Code: CS21 Size: 16,18
These hooks revive the old popular and firm holding sneck bend. Black finish.

Here it is. https://books.google.com/books?id=WxpvoYxhMXUC&pg=PA71&lpg=PA71&dq=muskrat+for+shuck+fly+tying&source=bl&ots=WwYXJ2DhJO&sig=1_5jIoyFO206e3_XpPPX1v15HT8&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjX-Pn5gJrcAhVB4YMKHQPMCZAQ6AEwEXoECAUQAQ#v=onepage&q=muskrat%20for%20shuck...

I read somewhere to use muskrat fur for a shuck but the source escapes me at the moment.

I finally found the sneck hooks and, as usual, they were in the last place I looked. The package is smaller than I remembered so I kept overlooking it. The three hooks from left: Mustad R50 size 18, Pennel sneck hook size 16 and Mustad 3354 sneck hook size 14.

Hank,
You hit the nail on the head! It must be a law of the universe that no matter how much space you have, you eventually fill it.

I'm still trying to find the package Pennel sneck hooks. I have too much stuff.