I am wondering if someone can describe how to correctly measure the amount of dubbing to apply on a fly. I have been having a heck of a time trying to get properly tapered nymph bodies on #18 and smaller hook sizes. I seem to consistently apply to much dubbing, even when I pinch a very sparse amount of material.
I don't use dubbing for the abdomen of mayflies when they're smaller than #18. The abdomen ends up way too big with dubbing. You can't tie the abdomen sparse enough on tiny mayfly nymphs. The hook wire itself is bigger than the abdomen on some mayflies.
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I was trying to tie up some #18 and #20 RS2s. For this type of fly does it matter if I use dubbing to create the body on such small hooks or can I get away with simply creating the abdomen out of thread?
Try using synthetic dubbing rather than a natural. The synthetic dubs a lot thinner than a natural dubbing. You could also be using too thick of a thread. Try using a 70 denier thread or a 8/0 or 14/0 thread.
As Chris said, you may want to use thinner thread such as 14/0. Also, rabbit fur can be very fine dubbing material; just make sure you pick out the guard hairs. I have tied size 24 midge dry flies with rabbit dubbing. Finally, one way to thin the dubbing is to pull on it once the tip of it catches on the hook (I hope this makes sense); if you are using coarse, short dubbing material, it's more difficult to do this, but with fine, stringy material (like rabbit or fine synthetic dubbing) it's a lot easier. By pulling on the dubbing it elongates the material and makes it thinner.
Thanks for the tips. I have been using 8/0 thread and a synthetic Lifecycle dubbing from Wapsi. 14/0 thread sounds sort of scary since I am still figuring out proper thread tension...unfortunately I still have a lot of break-offs with the 8/0 thread. I am probably just twisting on way to much dubbing. I will try pulling more of the dubbing out before I apply it to the thread.
I agree with the guys, just use thread on small stuff. Otherwise Antron dubbing is always easy to wrap skinny. I also strip pea**** hearl with an eraser for may bodies.
I was trying to tie up some #18 and #20 RS2s. For this type of fly does it matter if I use dubbing to create the body on such small hooks or can I get away with simply creating the abdomen out of thread?
Thanks, SCM
You can dub 18 and 20 RS2's...I do. You just have to get used to using only a tiny pinch of it. For bigger sizes I'll use natural colored hairtron, for smaller I use the fine dry fly dubbing. Practice is the only way to figure out dubbing, I always used way too much when I first started out. Remember use just a little, if you need more you can always go back and add it easier than removing too much.
a little wax on the 14 size thread helps a lot for the dubbing those small flies. Just enough to increase the thickness of the thread is all you really need.
