dubbing

[WebFreeman]

I heard a guy at a shop recently scoff "no one uses dubbing wax anymore...." Well, I have "waxed" thread, but I can't get my dubbing to stick without winding tighter than a cheap Dominican cigar. Plus, my 30 year old chunk of dubbing wax is as dry as a hockey puck. Thought about using my daughters glue stick, but haven't yet. What's the best way to go about it. I'm using Ultra Thread 140 denier. Thanks

[troutchaser]

Hi. My name must be No One. I use dubbing wax a lot. Use it if you've got it. If you don't, you could try this method:

Wet your index finger and thumb with your tongue and moisten the thread so your dubbing will stick. (This is also handy for removing those pesky little hairs and hackle barbs stuck to your fingers by leaving them on your tongue.) If your dubbing still falls off, you're probably using too much.

Another suggestion to keep your dubbing loose and "buggy" is to make sure you twist it onto the thread in one direction only - not back and forth.

[Steve Smith]

Web; stop by Wally Worlds and pick up a $1.99 wax toliet ring. You'll have enough dubbing wax to last a lifetime.

[Flysmallie]

Web; stop by Wally Worlds and pick up a $1.99 wax toliet ring. You'll have enough dubbing wax to last a lifetime.

I knew there was something wrong with you Steve. No wonder your flies smell like crap!!!

Wash your hands thoroughly next time you fix me a dog.

[Don]

Also, if and when you get your dubbing twisted on a single strand of thread, you might want to make a dubbing loop and twist it on. Dubbing will not fall off after then.

Don

[Terry Beeson]

I've got the toilet ring too but don't use it that much. Most of the time, I just lick my fingers and wet the thread a bit, then lick them again before working the dubbing. But that can depend on the type of dubbing you are using.

Yes, twisting in one direction only is best. You may have to work it a bit, but with practice you'll get the hang of it.

Also, in most cases you will have some sort of ribbing. A good idea is to wrap the ribbing in the OPPOSITE direction as you wrapped the dubbing onto the hook. This will help keep the dubbing in place.

[WebFreeman]

Good tip, Steve. I thought the "expert" was talking out of the wrong hole. Ive been meaning to try a dubbing loop. Seems like a good technique. Does it hide the thread, well. I'm sure the answer is yes, otherwise we would do it.

[Terry Beeson]

Web... depends on the material, length of said material, and how you wrap it on the hook. But, yes... for the most part it hides the thread well.

[Danoinark]

Go to the hunting department and get some bow wax. That works also.

I have some dubbing wax, but I like the moisten the fingers technique also.

Dano

[Steve Smith]

While we are discussing dubbing, and not to derail this thread. I have been noticing a lot of hype about using "dry fly" dubbing on dry flys. Many here have tied much longer than I, so does dry fly type dubbing really help a pattern to float? Or is it just marketing hype?