John Rohmer’s Arizona Simi-Seal
Some fly-tying materials come and go. Others quietly earn a permanent place on the tying bench. John Rohmer’s Arizona Simi-Seal is firmly in the second category.
Originally developed in Arizona by master fly tier John Rohmer, Simi-Seal was designed to capture the buggy movement and translucency of natural seal fur—once a favorite dubbing material but now difficult to obtain and rarely used. Instead of relying on traditional seal, Rohmer created a proprietary blend of natural and synthetic fibers that offers incredible movement, subtle flash, and unmatched versatility.
While many anglers know it as the material behind the famous Simi-Seal Leech, its uses extend far beyond leeches. It excels in streamers, nymphs, balanced flies, damsels, and even larger dry flies where a buggy, lifelike appearance is the goal. The coarse fibers create natural movement underwater while remaining durable enough to withstand fish after fish.
Today, Simi-Seal has developed a loyal following among fly tyers around the world and has inspired countless productive patterns. It’s proof that sometimes the most innovative materials don’t replace traditional techniques—they simply make great flies even better.
Why we love it at AZ Fly Shop:
A fun fact you could use as a sidebar:
Did You Know?
John Rohmer originally developed Arizona Simi-Seal in his Arizona workshop using his own custom-built fiber blending machine. The exact fiber recipe remains one of fly tying’s best-kept secrets, but the results have made Simi-Seal one of the most recognizable dubbing materials in modern fly tying.
