Hi all. This may sound like a silly question, but about how long do your flies hold up either with just wrapping the thread with your dubbing, or using a dubbing loop. I had a tremendous 4th with my clouser nymph, but I noticed that the dubbing had been “worn off” and was now down to the thread. This is after 6 smallies and a couple of hours pounding the stream. Still looks pretty buggy, but it got me to thinking. Maybe I need to be wrapping things a whole lot tighter, or is quick wear the nature of the beast? Any ideas or your experiences appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob
Sounds to me like you got your money’s worth out of that fly. I have taken as many as 23 fish on one fly. It to looked worn out but was still working when I went home. Be happy with what you got out of your fly. You could have lost it in a tree or to a fish or in the rocks. 
Ron
[This message has been edited by RonMT (edited 06 July 2006).]
BobC - I’ve had the same - but found with straight dubbing (no loop), and add a 4lb mono rib snug up against the body - counter wrapped to the dubbing - it lasts a good deal longer. You can sinch the mono a bit to hide in the body - or not.
All up until you get a toothy critter taking the hook - then all bets are off …
darrell,
Hi RonMT. Still laughing on that one about the trees. If I could tell you how many tree smallies I have caught!! Real heavyweights too!! Anyway, I did get my moneys worth on that one. I just tied up a couple of more. The key to using it in fast water was to get the weight proper. I really learned a lot in the last week or so about weighting and fishing faster water. Lots of fun, and always something to learn!
Good fishing
Bob
Most of my dubbed flies are noodle dubbed but have a wire rib for reinforcement and they last a good long time. I do use a dubbing loop for some flies but only for flies that I want more of a shaggy or leggy look so I rarely use a dubbing loop (also if called for on a pattern).
Robert B. McCorquodale
Sebring, FL
“Flip a fly”
You might also consider using a dubbing brush to make that pattern. The dubbing brush is really just your dubbing material very tightly twisted in fine wire. I have never had a dubbing brush fail and they really speed up the tying process. Drop me an email if you would like some information on making dubbing brushes.
Jim Smith
Hey Bob,
RW and I swap a number of flies each year
based on the number of races won or lost by
the #20 and #8 Nextel teams. It stays
fairly close and the numbers are not large.
I have repeatedly fished RW’s dubbed flies
for bluegills here in SC and have taken in
excess of 100 on a single fly in a single
afternoon. Some of his individual flies
have caught over 200 fish in a single week
and show virtually no wear.G As a matter
of fact, the only difference I can detect
is a darkening of the colors of the flies.
I assume from the minute addition of fish
slime with each catch.
I submit to you that RW holds the key to
longevity of flies and if you want to know
more, he should be your source.G While I
strongly suspect that it is related to
attention to detail and thread wrap tension,
only RW can say for sure. Warm regards, Jim