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3. the dubbing debate 2: to spin or loop?

I have been having a debate with myself as to which technique makes for a more effective and more durable dubbed body on flies. And, which technique -- the dubbing loop, or dubbing spun on thread -- do you use, is better suited, for dries, wets, nymphs?

By way of background, for newer tyers, in the spun dubbing method, dubbing material is twisted onto the working thread and the dubbed thread is wound forward to create the body of the fly. In the dubbing loop method you make a loop of thread on the shank of the hook and then place dubbing inside the thread loop. I grab the end of the loop with hackle pliers and twist it tight to form a rope of dubbing material which is caught between the twisted thread. Then I wind the working thread forward, then wind the dubbing loop forward to make the body.

The loop seems to work well for trapping a dubbing mix of soft and stiff, fur and hair. I've used short guard hairs of squirrel, rabbit, deer's mask hair, of course, seal fur, and even short pieces of clipped synthetic materials. The result is a fuzzy, buggy-looking fly.

A soft hackle wet fly, or nymph, with the thorax section tied using a dubbing loop makes an extremely effective pattern.

Pat,
For Dries I almost exclusively use the direct dubbed "noodle" approach.

I find the dubbing loop to really shine in situations where I want to build up some bulk or want a really buggy look. So patterns like stoneflies (thorax portions), cress bugs, or wool head sculpins or the Shenks Minnow get the loop treatment.
JW

Hi,
Well, I use a dubbing brush fabricated as Leisenring did. These are very effective for strong, well-tied bodies. Occasionally, I dub to the tying thread, but for wet flies & flymphs, the Leisenring method works best for me. While many feel a dubbing loop technique is the same, it's not, really. I believe the result of the Leisenring dubbing brush is rough, buggy, and more effective. I also find it easier to control the distribution of the dubbing along the tying thread better using this method.

Mark

Mark, thanks. I've heard of a dubbing brush but never used one. I have used a dubbing needle to pick out fur/hair on nymph bodies. Would you be willing to expand a bit on the Leisenring method and Leisenring dubbing brush?

Pat I like the DL for many reasons. Let your mind wonder and you will come up with some very different effects. If you dub very sparse and let the thread color show through,you can use two different color threads( with a knot) so you get a twisted effect,or you can put a little bit tinsel in lope -then twist or put some antron in lope or a feather----well you get the idea your options are endless. IMHO most tiers dub to heavy .

Best
JAD

For many of the nymphs I tie I use a dubbing noodle for the abdomen and a dubbing loop for the thorax. A dubbing looped thorax is very impressionistic and there is no need for hackle or partridge "legs". I like this kind of fly especially for the Erie steelhead creeks because I want a fly that is quick to tie because I lose so many flies in the shale on the bottom but is still very effective.

Hi Pat,
The dubbing "brush" is the result of the Leisenring method of dubbing. The brush is made off the fly and tied two the fly. Leisenring did the process of creating the "brush" on his pant-leg. Here is a link to the process:

http://www.troutnut.com/libstudio/Leisenring

Later, a dubbing block was created by one of Leisenring's students, Dick Clark. I'll see if I can locate a photo. There is a photo and explanation for use in Dave Hughes' book WET FLIES.

Again, I find the results are very good with this method and there is more control over the process. Another advantage is you can make the dubbing brushes up ahead of time, to be used, later.

Mark

Mark, wow, this is pretty cool. I had no idea that this method of creating a dubbing "brush" existed. I have heard of Leisenring. Is it the same Big Jim Leisenring of the "Leisenring Lift?" Did Leisenring prefer to use the dubbing brush for all of his wet flies or just for certain patterns/specific applications? The descriptive name "Dubbing Brush" suggests that this method produces a stiff, bristly fly. I wonder if there are other tyers who are using it today?

Pat it is one and the same Liesenring. If I remember correctly he was from the Lehigh Valley area of PA and fished extensively in the Pocono and Catskill Regions and most notably on the Broadheads where there is a pool which caries his name. There is also a memorial plaque along the Little Lehigh to him (JAD can attest to that one).
JW

Leisenring Dubbing Method is a great way to make a fuzzy body or thorax, but so can a dubbing loop work well if used properly. I find getting the right wax is key to holding the loose hair onto the thread before twisting. I use Leisenring/Keene Wax that I get from JimsFlyCo.com. This is the best wax I have ever used for fly tying.



The body of the above fly was created with hare's ear, Keene wax and a dubbing loop.

Pat,
Yes, others do use the dubbing brush as Leisenring did. Jim would make up bodies like this and store them on cards that had slits cut into them on opposite sides. This way, he could make up bodies ahead of time to be used later. Big Jim used it for all his dubbed wet flies, and was quite a successful wet fly fisherman. He felt that the body construction was very important and that the tying thread should show through the dubbing, somewhat to give the overall effect of the insect.

The affect should look like this:


Another advantage is you can use different colored thread than the tying thread for the dubbing brush. Sure you can do this with a loop IF you tie on different colored thread. You still have to tie this on separately, so you might as well create the entire brush, then tie it on.

The wax that John (WiFlyFisher) is very good stuff for performing this dubbing application.

John,
I'm sure if you spoke with Jim, he'd tell you that dubbing as Leisenring did is not quite the same as dubbing in a dubbing loop. The results are slightly different.

Mark

Jim is working very hard to convert me over to his ways. He is both a hackle nerd and a flymph junkie, as you already know. Being a cheeshead, I am just a slow learner.

BTW, Mark ties some of the best looking soft hackles I have ever seen.

Mark, nice soft hackled fly -- and I see the effect of using the gray dubbing on claret thread. It's a nice effect. I prefer to tie wet flies and nymphs that have bodies of rough dubbed fur and hair. I like to achieve a spiky, fuzzy look that I think imitates the movement of a live struggling or emerging insect and because I think this sort of dubbed body traps air and water that creates a flash and sparkle, as if to suggest a living creature. I have often picked up a nymph after fishing out a cast and looking at it noticed, for lack of a better word, a "halo-like" effect where water/trapped air beads up in a silvery bubble. Has anyone else noticed this? I suspect that the dubbing mixture (spiky mix of hair/fur, stiff/soft, and method of application (dubbing loop) produce this result. And John, that is exactly what I'm talking about. Your "hare's ear wax" fly looks killing!

Pat,

Remember this... we fly fishing humans have been studying trout for centuries. Trout have a very, very small brain and yet they are still able to out smart us. At the same time, some of my worst tied flies catch more trout better than my best looking flies. My conclusion is... It is easier to catch other fly fishers than it is a wily trout. :)

Pat,
Your statement about trapping air in the dubbed bodies of flymphs is something Vern Hidy talked about years ago. Being a student/friend of Leisenring, he use to dry the flymph between casts to make it trap air. He called it a "hydrofuge". Vern also tied his flymphs on up-eye hooks. He said they looked better when drawing them up through the water column.

After talking about the air bubble, here on this board, and with the article Lloyd posted, I guess Hidy was right, and the practice makes sense.

Mark

Even though I have tied a lot of wet flies with turned down eyes, I have never really understood why. If I had a weight ahead of the fly then maybe a turned down eye would make more sense. The weight would sink below the eye and the turned down eye would be pointed in that direction.

This summer I plan on going below the surface of the stream for the first time and try to see my flies from a different perspective. Wish me luck. :)

Didn't read all of the posts, but do we know which way to dub on the thread to create the tightest body when dubbing forward?...counter?..or clockwise twisted on the thread?

Yes, but it depends on the direction you tie and with which hand.

ahh that is true Entomen.