Hi All! This may sound like a real silly question and so I apologize in advance, but I had a question about using marabou feathers. In all of the instructions I have followed I have always used the tip, measuring the proportion to the shank in accordance with the recipe. I saw an article where I think the author was fanning out the feather from the stem, and then stripping some of the fibers from the stem and using those on the particular fly. This would open up the use of some of the “fluffier” parts of the feather near the stem base on a smaller hook, and I think might impart some better action to the tail. Does this sound like anything anyone else is doing? Again, sorry for a stupid question, but I’m still learning my way as I go.
Thanks,
Bob
:?:
Absolutely. I will use the tip of the marabou feather as a tail, but I generally prefer to use the individual barbules along the shaft of the feather. I think they provide better action in the water and make a less “squared off” profile than if you use the tips of the marabou feathers. I try waste as little if the feathers as I can.
Jim Smith
Hi Bob,
For Wooly Buggers and other such flies with large maraboo tails I’ll use the tips. However, I’ll strip off the fibers and dubb them on to make a maraboo rope for doing bodies rather than wrap the feather itself. I’ll use stripped maraboo for tails if I’m just making a small tail, as on a wee wet fly.
- Jeff
:idea:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytyin … rt134.html
I believe there was also a thread discussing this and some of the folks recommended after you segment it as discussed you fold the barbules over the stem and tie i that bunch.
Hi Jeff and DMan. Thanks for the replies. DMan, that tip you pointed me to looks like just the thing to try, and that comment about a pillow fight if you don’t have an anchor at the end is right on the money! LOL. I just downloaded it into my fly tying directory to make sure I don’t loose it! I should have thought to browse around there first, so thanks for the heads up. I will be trying this out tonight on a couple of patterns.
Good Fishing!
Bob
Bob, Let us know how it worked out. I haven’t tied enough flies using marabou lately… since that discussion… but definitely want to give it a try.
When using Marabou as the wing on a streamer I suggest that you cut the center inch or so out of the feather. You will get a lot more movement in the wing of the streamer if you do. I use one feather per streamer when tying most flies. Unless large or calling for more than one color in the wings make up. I also strip the upper quill of all marabou before starting to tie it just makes a nicer fly. Do all this before starting to tie.
Another trick when tying with marabou. As you know it is very unruly stuff to work with. Use water. Just take a small plate and an old washcloth. Fold the cloth and wet it with water. Lift the fold and pull the feather through it and press down on the top of the cloth while doing this. It will wet the marabou and save you a lot of problems. Easy and safe way to wet it. You can use the cloth to wet your fingers when you need them damp to spin dubbing to. Like I said it is a safe way to do thing’s. I see a lot of people wetting there fingers with there tounge and they are taking a chance of getting sick doing this.
One other marabou that I use a lot and most people do not is on the base of feathers. It is short and works for the tailing on flies very well. I use it for emergers and for nymph’s. Ron
Ron,
What’s your opinion of blood quill marabou vs what I guess is the more mature feather? And is it accurate to assume that strung marabou feathers are blood quill?
I tend to trim the marabou off the stem and use it for tails wings or bodies. I use the water technic to control it and like to twist it for bodies. I tend to go through a lot of marabou in a month
Hi All! Jim, I forgot to give you a thanks before as well, and Ron, I was hoping you would weigh in as you Always have practical and very good advice. I always read your replies as I go thru this section. I have really gotten a lot of very good info with everyones replies, and will be able to put it to immediate use. The Clouser Nymph will be first, and I’m going to do some Buggers as well. I have to say it again, I don’t think there is a better site for fly tying advice and knowledge.
Once again, Thanks!
Bob Cunningham
ducksterman- In years past you could find Marabou of both types strung. I have a lot of both type’s. The blood quill type is just shorter and fuller is all that I can make of it. I like the regular length of marabou for real large streamers and the short or Blood Marabou for regular length of flies. But either will work for any style of streamer. The Blood Marabou may be better if you are wrapping the marabou around the hooks and combing it back to get a full body. It may be the best size for this. Were the longer Marabou may be to long. I just tied a bunch of King Salmon flies for a group that went to Alaska and had to wrap the Marabou for these flies. I guess they did well with them as they ordered a bunch more for next season up there. Pain in the butt to tie and not cheap either LOL. All were tied with Blood Marabou.
I also think the Blood Marabou gives just a bit better action in the water because the fibers are fuller and have more body to them. That is just my opinion though. Ron
:roll: I like your new layou but wish you had added a “spell check” and and an “edit” option so we could correct our mistakes…
Hey Ray…
The edit has always been there …still is…
Spell check you gotta add on your own…mine still works fine…
And I’m a little surprised you posted about this on a marabou thread???
[url=http://www.iespell.com/:5d330]ieSpell[/url:5d330] is a free download that goes on your tool bar, that you can use to check your spelling on the Bulletin Board.
~Parnelli
Maybe a little late on this reply, but I’m just getting going on this forum.
I tie a lot of buggers for warmwater fishing, from size 10 up to usually around a size 2. I prefer a slightly smaller profile than the normal hackle of a bugger. So, I use a whole marabou feather. I run my fingers down the feather to get control of the fibers and pull out from my fingers fibers (starting with the ones closest to the butt of the feather) until the tail is the thickness I want. I then tie it in by making 4-7 wraps in the same spot just ahead of the bend and then advance the thread to the eye without tying in the rest of the marabou. Then I twist the remaining marabou into a rope and palmer it up the shank. Add a soft hackle style collar and you are good to go.
It gives it a nice, full, buggy look without the monster diameter of a full hackle. Plus I feel better about not wasting the rest of the marabou feather (I’m cheap).
Got a picture of this style of fly? E Mail or post if you don’t mind. Sounds good!
Hi Deeky. There was one response earlier in the thread that points you to a really neat marabou tip. Check it out. Duck, I just cut the marabou into a few sections and tied up some #8 Clouser Nymphs. The mid sections of marabou really look good on the size 8, and I think I have a really good looking tail that is going to move very well in the water. Fold over the section and give it a try. Much better on my ties than previous, and the bonus is getting to use more of the marabou. I’ll be doing some in depth research tomorrow at the creek. :lol:
For three maraboo tails cut the stem twice giving you three tails when you hold the piece in your left hand and trim off the short stem
Bobc -
Missed that link before, thanks. I like it if I’m not using the marabou for the body. I guess I have sort of done the same thing by holding all of the fibers between two fingers, and then pull them out starting from the stem until I have the amount of tail that I want, then I just snip between the fibers that are forwards in my fingers and those pulled back and out of the way. I actually like the look of the marabou body over just chenille.
Flymaker -
This is the only pic I have right now uploaded. This is actually one where I also tied in a white marabou by the tips and did a tiger weave with it. So it’s not exactly what I was talking about, but you can see how nice and fuzzy the body is.
If you want, I can get a pic of a single color body and put it up. Let me know.
Deeky
Gotta say this…if you are using marabou barbules for tails that are attached to even the thin terminal quill…you won’t get a much motion as some of the other barbules…
Nice looking fly…interesting body technique.