What it is
Hareline Acetate Floss is a 900-denier fly-tying floss made from acetate. Left as-is it lays smooth, and when you treat it with acetone it fuses and sets into a hard, translucent finish. That acetone-treated shell is durable and helps the material hold its shape.
What to tie with it
Use it for smooth, clean bodies and tags by wrapping it flat and even, then sealing it with an acetone wipe to lock everything together. It also works well for tails, nymph cases, and shellbacks where you want a formed, translucent “case” rather than a soft fiber. Some tyers even use the floss itself to tie-in and build the fly quickly, then fuse it in place with acetone.
Flies and the fish they're for
Acetate Floss shows up in chironomid patterns like an Acetate Chironomid Fly, where the fused body gives you a sleek midge pupa profile for trout in lakes and slow water. It’s also used on the Black Mamba, a steelhead and salmon-style fly often swung or stripped for anadromous fish. You’ll also see it in Coho streamer-style patterns where the acetone-treated floss can build a durable, shaped body for coho salmon in rivers and estuaries.
