Dubbing Loop

Was out hunting ducks and met a fellow tyer. During a BS's session he advocated making a dubbing loop out of thin copper wire in lieu of tying thread. Anybody ever try this and if so what do you think of it?

Thanks - Tim Anderson

trying it right now, brb

I do now.

I just tied a gold ribbed hares no thread till the body was done. The wire shows through, but it lacks the ribbing look the wire does show through nice and gives an amazing look. A Leisenring loop would be fun to try. This is kinda like a sawer PT.


Joe Fox

Haven't used a wire dubbing loop, but I use a wire dubbing brush for tying scuds and sowbugs, and it works great. Makes them almost indestructable, and the wire shows thru, giving an automatic rib.

Hi Tim....yes, I have tried it and it works well.......great for nymphs as it adds weight. One other advantage is that you can twist a rope big enough for 3 or 4 flys on it's own and just tie it in. It won't unravel. I also use it to make my own flash hackle for streamers. Try it out!.......Jason

I decided to try the wire. First attempt was without thread and it kinda ended up in a disaster. I ended up with a neat looking body what kept spinning around the hook shank. I solved that problem and then tried what Jason suggested and found success with that idea. I believe this wire dubbing loop holds promise and I will be experimenting with it this winter. Thanks to all of you for your input.

Tim Anderson

Tim,
I notice that Skip Morris in his videos....don't remember which...demos some flies using wire as thread.

[This message has been edited by ducksterman (edited 06 November 2005).]

I tie some of my flies using wire instead of thread. I do these for those big fish that will tear-up and destroy a fly, on the first hit.

Make your wire dubbing brushes horizontally before starting the fly and tie them in like chenille (which they are). [url=http://www.humblefishermen.com/pat/dubbin.htm:13838]http://www.humblefishermen.com/pat/dubbin.htm[/url:13838]

Here's one I saw at a show...block to make brushes from wire...
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/dubingblock1.jpg:d9d81]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/dubingblock1.jpg[/url:d9d81]
[url=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/dubbingblock2.jpg:d9d81]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v185/ducksterman/dubbingblock2.jpg[/url:d9d81]

A "wire dubbing loop" and a "dubbing brush" are the same thing. Just different names. Wire dubbing loop is the home made version of the "store-bought" dubbing brush.
That wasn't hard to figure out.

DB

Hey Don,
If I make use a wire dubbing loop wouldn't I end up with a homemade dubbing brush ..not store bought?


HHmmmm are we getting off track here?

Dub in some olive, black or the two mixed rabbit fur cut from rabbit strips into a wire dubbing loop and just wrap it around a hook. Most of the time I use a size 10 streamer hook but other sizes of hooks can be used as well for diffrent effects. If you like add in a little flash. Very buggy looking and lots of action with the rabbit fur motion in the water. A great fly for Browns, Bass and many other fish.
This simple fly can be used as a leech, sculpin, or a damsel fly just depending on how its fished. Jig it, strip it, work it on a full sinking line along the bottom. This simple fly caught me my largest Brown to date on a little lake down by MT ST Helens 2 years ago.