I am new to this form but have been reading it for some time. I have been tying my own flies for a long time but I have not yet learned to do dubbing. Do any of you have any suggestions on how I can learn to do this.
Practice!
The basic idea is pretty simple get some fluffy stuff on the thread to wrap around the hook, from there you just got to try it till you figure out.
You might remember… only rotate your fingers in one direction.
Rule No1 apply your dubbing material Sparingly. Trying to get the job done quickly by loading the dubbing material in big lots, will cause a lot of strife. Little by little works best. Jax
I sometimes wet(lightly) my finger and thumb while spinning. It helps me with the coarser types of dubbing. Also, re-spinning the dubbing every couple of turns will keep it spun on the thread.
Have you tried dubbing loops? DL add another dimension to your tying.
Later…
Yep. A little goes a long way. Take as much as you think you will need for a small section and then take away half of that. sparsely apply it to the thread, twisting your fingers in one direction only, and wrap in close, turns. Then, apply some more, and repeat. After you have done this several times you will begin to get a better feel for it. It is pretty frustrating at first (particularly when you see people dubbing perfectly tapered bodies) it just takes time and practice. Probably the hardest thing for me to learn.
I’ve gotten lazy and tend to use punch yarn for dubbing where I can.
I am still pretty new and sometimes my dubbing comes out good and sometimes it doesn’t. My guess is the direction you twist the dubbing onto the thread matters though I haven’t had time to test it out yet. My theory is as you wrap the dubbing around the hook you are twisting it with the thread. Therefore depending on how you twisted it on you maybe untwisting it. My guess it you should twist it on the the thred in a counter-clockwise direction if you are a right handed tier…Like I said I haven’t tested this thoery yet…can someone with more experience comment?
There is another dubbing method I saw on a online video where on the “tip” of the dubbing is wrapped around the thread and the action of wrapping the thread and dubbing together does the rest…A Whitlock method.
Thanks guys for your input. I will be trying all of these soon. The bigest problem I seem to have is geting the dubbing to stick to the thread. I have tried the loop method and just a single therad with added wax and glue stick with no luck. The dubbing material I am trying to use is Fly-Rite extra fine poly. Is this what I should be using.
wax the thread pretty good, you can put wax on your fingers to. make sure you spin it on the thread all in the same direction
WWFF
Yes, being a right-handed tier, I find it is best to twist the thread in a counter-clockwise direction. That is, counter-clockwise when looking down from the top with the thread hanging down.
that dubbing you’re using is among the easiest materials to dub. you’re probably using far too much material. take just a wisp of it and use it to “paint” the thread. you’re really not adding much more than color and a little bit of texture. build your taper with the thread.
redacted,
Check with another tyer or at a fly shop and see if they will show you. A qucik demonstaration helps alot.
Rick
Its funny when I first started to tie I heard so many times from people to not use to much dubbing at a time I got scared to use more then a slight wisp. I found I was using to little and my hares ears nympths looked like little more the a furry hook with no shape to the body it self. While it does not take much do not go to far the other way either or your fly boddies will not have any shape to them.
Rule No1 apply your dubbing material Sparingly
A great quote I once read was this:
Start with the amount of dubbing you think you need.
Cut that in half.
Cut it in half again.
Now you’ll only have twice as much dubbing as you need.
What is punch yarn? I have never herd this term before. I have some dubbing material on small spools brand name sunrise made in india. This stuff works very good for me but I have run out of the colors I use most. I have not been able to find it any place I have looked. does anyone know where I might find this type material?
I’m about to be called to eat so no time…do a Google with punch yarn and you’ll find it …entire web or FAOL
pap-paw,
Here is a link to a fly pattern that was presented by the late Al Campbell. http://www.flyanglersonline.com/alcampbell/ac011204.html
It is a type of embroidery yarn. I think most fabric stores and craft stores will carry it.