[SIZE=2]I have learned what little I know about tying trout flies out of books and videos. Unfortunately, I have never been in a position where I could discuss what a better tyer was doing or ask questions. I learned to dub flies by taking a little dubbing, usually too much, and twisting it around the thread into a string which was wrapped around the hook. I learned to use a dubbing loop to make buggy or fuzzy looking flies, mostly nymphs. But watching LeRoy Hyatt on the WKSU series I learned to make a tight dubbing loop and dub dry flies in that manner. It seems to a better method for me in some or most situations. What do you guys do? Do you know any little tricks to make better looking flies (especially to the fish) or easier to do methods?[/SIZE]
My suggestion is not about dubbing per se, it is to incorporate the ribbing within the dubbing. Since I discovered embroidery tinsel/thread I have seldom used wire for ribbing. However you make your dubbing (single strand, loop, loose or tight) two strands of embroidery thread included alongside the thread does the job of ribbing IMO. The dubbing is reinforced, sparkle occurs at random, and I only have to wrap up the hook once. On some light flies I use the black/charcoal ‘tinsel/thread’ as a highlight to accent the segments - many colours of the embroidery tinsel thread are available.
You can also use all six strands to wrap for ribbing on larger flies like buggers or for the body on some wet flies for instance.
Jesse,
I’m very fond of inserting the dubbing into a split tying thread. It basically serves the same purpose as a dubbing loop, but adds less bulk, and it is easily dubbed as light or heavy as you need. In order to use the technique though, you can’t use a bonded thread, but have to use a continuous filament thread like Danville, Gordon Griffiths, etc.
REE
Have you thought of using the rope dubbing technique that Don Ordes touts?
Wayneb
Don’s Ordes’s dubbing dvd actually gives 24 different dubbing techniques… It’s pretty cool! You’ll learn a whole lot!
http://ukflydressing.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=sbs&thread=4046&page=1
There’s a WHOLE bunch of dubbing techniques in that link. I am sure you will find something that peaks your interest. There is one technique called the dubbing noodle that looks very similar in results to the dvd that is for sale in this thread. I am sure they are worlds apart though.
I have a couple of fly tying DVD’s with Oscar Feliu and he wets his fingers with flotant when twisting on the dubbing. Made very good sense to me, no need to add it when on the stream.
I use a dubbing loop 99% of the time. I’ve learned how to do some “dubbing brush” type things with just a loop lately, and have been experimenting with how different materials look in it. The best thing about tying is all the means to get to your end!
Wow!!! Thanks for the link Dub!!! That one got book marked - lots to read/re-read. 
I have wax dubbed mainly with some frustrated loop attempts for a long time just because i thought wax was the easiest way and i never had the loop tool… that will be changing! Gotta get the loop tech down and i recently made my own loop tool so no more trying to be a finger contortionist! 
Don’t know why you’d want to use a dubbing loop on a dry fly. Doesn’t make sense to me.
For basic dries, I just take a pinch of dubbing and twist it on the thread. Same technique you can see in 1000s of videos on the 'net.
My only tip would be to go sparse on dries. I think it was Ed Engle who worte that you should think about “painting the thread.” No more than that is needed for a dry.
I go with dubbing loops on big nymphs - where I have to build bulk quickly or become bored out of my mind.
http://kwsu.org/Offers/FlyTying.aspx Watch LeRoy tie the BWO in Episode 302, maybe that will help you understand.
Get yourself a coffee grinder. Put your dubbing in and give it a quick whizz. Tough dubbings like seal’s fur soften up nicely. You can make all kinds of shades and effects by mixing various materials. These days if I get any new dubbing it goes through the grinder first.
Cheers,
A.
Leroy thinks a size 18 BWO is small!!?? 18 is big by most hatch charts.
Having watched the video, I’ll stand by what I said.
It’s a much thicker body than I would tie, and it’s a bunch of extra steps.
With longer fiber dubbing like ice dub or angora goat etc.,a sparse clump dubbing technique makes for for killer leeches and streamers.
Also an extremely sparse clump dub of ice dubbing at the front of the of a soft hackle(or nymph) before hackling gives the fly a subtle inner glow.
You can also do heavier clump dubbing for bulk at the head of a streamer
Jesse,
Send me your mailing address and I’ll send you some free samples of rope-dubbed flies. If you like the looks of them and the elapsed time to tie the dubbed portion, you can look into getting the DVD to learn many applications of the technique. If you will read the reviews on my web page, you’ll see some happy tiers who learned the techniques.
I second that thought!! I bought a coffee grinder several months ago. I love it for mixing up some dubbing.
I am with the Rope Dubbing Don has on his DVD. I can use several other methods, but in my opinion Don’s way is much better for a lot of reasons. To me there are things you can do with it that can not be done in normal ways and also to me the ideas of what one can do is unlimited! You can just dub in several colors and even include your hackle right in the middle of it all so it’s protected without wire or you can just dub on wire.
Do your self a favor and give it a look.
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