My lampooning of dry fly fishermen is well documented, so I thought I’d take my comeuppance like a Man…
I’ve got a half dozen experimental colors of “Dubbing X” made, about an ounce of each, all hand made at the cost of most of my fingernails, lots of swearing, and the skin of both forefingers…
A medium gray (Adam’s), a Blue Wing Olive, Pale Morning Dun, Upper Sacramento Pink, and an Ocher. The above are the California colors for those insects and may not be correct for your local watershed.
An “accidental color” is one that occurs while learning an unfamiliar dye process, where you’ve written the material off thinking nothing good could come of it – didn’t write down the formula, so you can’t reliably make it again … and it turned out pretty darn good – which was a complete shock.
… and then you destroy both fingernails and flesh in a series of ill advised attempts to render it to base fur before finding some process that partially works.
I could use a little feedback on the next Great Dry Fly Dubbing, drop me a note and I’ll toss some in the mail.
This is only for dry fly use. The material floats without assistance (specific gravity less than 1), and is a micro-filament – or “Nano-dubbing” as OldTrout58 calls it.
… while supplies last – I’ll need time to regrow some fingernails before the next batch.
Tags: Dubbing X, dry fly dubbing, Blue Wing Olive, gray, Pale Morning Dun, fly tying materials, Upper Sacramento pink,
The colors look very good (in our spectrum). What I found most interesting was the number of Dollar Store reading glasses required to produce said dubbing … and still lose fingernails.
Yea. Once I was proud and virile, back straight, chin firm …
Now I’m a wrinkled shell of what once was … everything is convex, smells, and stooped.
Dubbing looks pretty good, I would be happy to try some out on these Michigan trout for you!
@John – send me your mailing address, I’ll drop some in the mail. My email address is available on the “about” page at the top of the screen – or just click the Sixth Finger Scissor ad. It should load your email client with my address.
Hey K…look at it this way that disgusting habit (picking your nose) that mom tried to break you of….well I’m just saying No fingernails may a blessing in disguise.
Monty
I’m one step ahead of you Monty, I started using a Bodkin … Besides, anglers have always adored crusty old coots with questionable character and dubious hygiene – and we celebrate their eccentric nature in both film and print. I’m just grooming mine early, knowing it can only add to the legend (which only exists between mine ears).
K, there is no longer any question – at all – about your character. And rumor has it that you have never understood “Hi Gene” as more than a pleasant personal salutation.
You have become one of the saints of the angling brotherhood. Alas, that also means either you are dead, appear to be so, or emit a very gamy odor. Possible two out of three, but brownliners have that advantage. Once you take up pipe-smoking and have a sufficiently offensive dottle, the veneration of the Perfect Piscator will begin.
I denounce this post: You say you’ve got dry fly dubbing, but all I see are colors for effete, pansy dry fly patterns – not the manly, strong-jawed Beetle Bug, whose bright red body sings a siren song no trout can resist.
Ever.
Hang your head in shame; you’ve become one of “them” and will remain so until we see some bright red on the page (blood or dubbing, either works).
The “Upper Sacramento Pink” will be in your mailbox shortly, Sir. You may not care for my interpretation of your mayfly – but you’ll have plenty to burn in protest.
Like Obama pretending to be American or George Bush pretending to be sentient, it’s simply another example of too little, too late.
That’s a florescent light showing those colors, I think you’ll find the color most suitable under direct sun or incandescent.
Oldtrout58 here.
Please don’t tell me that you’re in any
way, shape, or form, related to Monty Montana!
I know of him from the “Arundinaria amabilis” board.
Keith, you’re giving this away?
Are you nuts?
Don’t answer that, it’s a rhetorical question.
I hate my job, so if you need a marketing guru (I know nothing about marketing by the way), I’m your man!
I’ve played a little with the pre-dyed sample you sent to me. Outside of the color, the nano-dubbing is wonderful. I placed a hook tied with your dubbing in a bowl of water, and I gave up on waiting (more than a day) for it to sink. Of course, this was not moving water, and there was no leader attached to create drag, but the damn hook would not sink.
If you have any left, after giving your stash to those more worthy than I–which would be anyone not sitting on death row– you might still have my address….
My fly box is in dire need of some Upper Sac Pink Alberts. Well, the need is not dire, but who cares? I love olives, and Addams Family grey is a favorite too.
But know this, any sample you send to me might end up being sold on ebay as proof to my marketing prowess! Of course, I’d forward the “net” after taking my heafty commission.
And don’t even think about suing me, as I’m judgement proof!
I assumed that you’d want some, and was attempting to dig up your address. Send it to me again just so you get some.
I’m convinced this is the next great material – and I’m not surprised it will float a hook all day. The combination of the fiber denier and its floatation qualities is nothing short of spectacular.
3 sets of specs are sittin on that tying table!
Can we look forward to an article on the Brail tying technique coming out on your blog soon? Maybe a picture of you (old dubber) wearin multiple sets?
i apologize for my ignorance. how are you losing fingernails?
Scott,
In order to render the material as loose fur I have to destroy a woven fabric. As clothing science has designed the original material to minimize fraying – I’m doing battle with the designer.
Fabric has to be stressed to make it fibrous and remove the underlying weave of support fibers (which are not made of the material, so I have to remove them).
Dragging it behind a moving automobile works wonders – but I lose everything in the car’s wake. I’m having to design a torture system that does more damage to the material than it does to me. I’m having a little success.
have you ever tried a small food processor? i got one at wally world for about 10 dollars.
I’ll give it some thought – perhaps replace the blades with something that grinds and tears. I can punch holes in it with a drill, leaving the raw metal on the far side to rend fabric.
I’ll figure something out.
no modification needed on the food processor. i know people who use em to make dubbing. myself, i just buy it from my local fly shop. it allows you to mix different materials. so if you want to use synthetic and real fur together.
I don’t want to seem too piggish, as you sent a sample of the “natural” material, but I’d luve to spin some of your dyed material if you’d be willing to part with a little.