We use Chamois leather to make tails. I am not worried about flash as its the vibration/vortices they put out that is important.
Also last a hell of a lot longer than the plastic ones.
The tails on lures tend to be a bit heavy, being made from a much thicker plastic. they work, but are a bugger to cast.
In the long run, I have not found them to be the Holy Grail in pike fly fishing, but they do catch. I much prefer to make my flies "push" water. This seems to be more of a trigger than flash and movement.
