Hey folks. I’ve got a dubbing question. What are good types of dubbing to have on hand for tying nymphs and dries? I ask because I’m tying up some caddis pupae and the rabbit dubbing I’ve got just doesn’t look right. The only other dubbing I have is antron and hare’s ear fine/very fine and seems more suited to dry flies or traditional wets. So what type/brands should I be looking to purchase?
Thanks for any and all advice/wisdom.
Diane
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming-WOW—What A Ride!
Hi Diane,
You might want to try cabela’s Quick Descent Dubbing. It’s an aluminum dubbing and it sinks flies like you wouldn’t believe! I know what you’re thinking,Metal dubbing? Yep, and it dubs nice, you can use it on small flies I mean small like 28’s. Give it a try it’s only $2.50 and comes in good colors. Hope this helps you a little.
Hi Diane - I have hare’s masks dyed in several colors and they supply me with lots of great looking nymph dubbing,from fine to very scruffy. In addition muskrat, beaver, otter and mink all make nice nymph dubbing. Last year I started tying with alpaca and have been pleased with the results as well. You can get all these materials cheaply. The rabbit dubbing you have is a good dry fly dubbing, and I would also suggest mole for dries - excellent and very fine. Camel also makes an excellent dry fly dubbing, if you can find it.
As for blended dubbings, I like the squirrel blends for nymphs best of all, particulalrly if it has a bit of antron in it. Cheers, Alec
Despite the fact I use synthetics for 99% of my flies, I still use the real deal for nymphs. Besides all the great suggestions already given, I like to blend a little Angora in with my nymph dubbing for a buggy look.
I also have used Raccoon with great success. It is soft and dubs beautifully. The normal color is a wonderful medium to dark brown and if you bleach a piece, the result is a nice creamy color that works great for Sulphurs or Light Cahills.
Smooth bodied dry’s: Superfine
General purpose: Rabbit/antron blend
Long fibered: Angora goat, SLF or a blend or seal
Natural: Muskrat, Beaver, Hare’s mask
I picked up a selection of SLF/squirrel blend that is becoming my favorite nymph dubbing.
Diane, I get by with 2 assorted colors selection boxes; superfine for dries, “awesome 'possum” for nymphs. That being said, I have had to occasionally pick up the odd color now and then, and you can usually pickup bits of real fox, beaver, muskrat, badger and hare masks (etc) for short money as the need arises. The two assortments really cover most situations- as you can hand mix small quantities as needed. The two different textures get you in the ballpark for most flies.
I cannot give you a suggestion on the dry fly dubbing since I do not tie that many for my use.
For my nymphs I like rabbit, squirrel, awesome possum and ground hog. I really look the boxes or packages over carefully when I purchase them because I prefer a lot of guard hair in my dubbing for nymphs.
This stuff from Montana Fly Company has fast become my favorite dubbing. It ties best in a dubbing loop. I love it. It’s super buggy and great for caddis pupa, double bead stones and other wet flies. I also use it on half down dry stoneflies and sometimes on a para madamX or similar, but it doesn’t float all that well. I think it really shines for nymphs.
Scroll down to the “Pheonix Dubbing” [url=http://www.montanafly.com/2006%20Web%20Pages/Page_62.htm:dfcf4]http://www.montanafly.com/2006%20Web%20Pages/Page_62.htm[/url:dfcf4]
heres my list of dubbings in no preticular order.
Rabbit Assorted
Beaver Assorted
Awesome Possum (Austrailian Opossum )Assorted
Hare’s Ear…Nat.,Olive,Brown,Grey
Artic Fox Body
Not a “dubbing” But I love it…Punch Yarn.
Snow Shoe Hare…For certian applications…were I want floatation Emerger Nymph’s and the like.
and
a peacock dubbing blend finnishes off my list of dubbings…
I would think, just as a rule of thumb, that fur from water mammals such as beaver and muskrat would be more suited to dry flies as it would be kind of water repellent, does that make any sense? And while you probably weight nymphs anyway to sink them, you would want something that would absorb water for them.
Oh, Lord, Di, I dunno how to answer this. I’ve got bits and pieces of hide and hair from almost every critter known to man, my wife says I have more dead animal parts than any museum on earth, and that I’m responsible for more dead chickens than the bird flu. Anyway, I can mix or match almost any dubbing known to man. One of the best places to find dubbing is in the craft or yarn section of any Wal-Mart or Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby sells rabbit skins of many natural colors, and yarns of many natural and artificial materials. You can make dubbing of any of these by cutting small pieces and mixing them in a small jar in a water and soap bath. Then rinse well and place on a towel or paper towel to dry. You can make a lifetime supply of dubbing in just a few minutes with this method.
Ah, so it’s another addiction I’ve started…dubbing mixing. ok… I’ll have at it and see what I can do. In the meantime, I’m also going to look for a couple of pre-mixes that are out there and that you all have recommended. Thanks everyone.
ok, i’m ruined. i mixed some of my pet airedale’s hair with some antron and am now happily tying a bunch of very buggy bird’s nests. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. My dog thanks you, too. I finally brushed him.
Diane, years ago there was an article in “Field & Stream” by a man who said that his teachers thought that he was a nicotine fiend when he was in school because his finger tips looked like they were stained from tobacco. Actually, he said, it was from hare’s mask dubbing.
I hear that there is no cure, but the group meetings are fun. Espcially when somebody shows up with a new vise.