Fly Tying | Gear Changer

When Blane Chocklett’s book, Game Changer: Tying Flies that Look and Swim Like the Real Thing, was released last year, I knew I had to get my hands on it. In this revolutionary book, Blane discusses his search for the ultimate streamer to entice pressured and wary fish around the world. Chocklett’s “Game Changers” include more than 20 patterns, tied on a series of interconnecting spines, which create an irresistible movement when drawn through the water. I devoured the tips and techniques outlined in the book and immediately purchased the materials, shanks, and dubbing brushes required to whip up a few of the patterns.

As I began tying, however, I realized that the store-bought dubbing brushes produced only about two flies per brush. Further, I discovered the color combinations that I imagined would help mimic the code cracking that Chocklett had embarked upon, were not readily available.

In my mission to make these changes to my own streamer game, I found that there are many materials which would be useful in making my own dubbing brushes. These include Craft Fur, Polar Fiber, EP Fibers, natural fur and more. By making my own brushes, I could create a variety of colors and dimensions with sparkle materials such as ice dubbing or Krystal Flash. Further, because these materials come in different sizes (half inch, three-quarter inch, one inch and up to three inches), I discovered I could create an effective taper to the body of the streamer.

I dug out a dubbing brush table I had purchased many years ago to make dubbing brushes for thoraxes on nymphs and decided to experiment with a variety of materials and colors. Below is a tutorial, including a few tips and techniques based on my experience, to create and tie with these homemade brushes.

For additional patterns and video tutorials, visit flyfishersinternational.org

Dubbing Brush Formation

Dubbing Brush Maker Tool.

Use a stainless dubbing brush wire (medium or large works well). Lay the wire on the table, then cut your material. Using Polar Fiber, measure the length of the hair to be 2 inches long.

Add Ripple Ice Hair on top of the layer of Polar Fiber. This will add flash to the dubbing brush.

For color, add red Polar Fiber sparsely over the top of the Ripple Ice Hair.

Creat e a large loop to trap the fibers.

Once the fibers are trapped in the loop, spin the wheel until the wire tightens or breaks.

Remove the wire with the fur that is trapped in the wire loop. With a wire brush or a pet wire brush, stroke the fibers perpendicular to the wire core. This will pull fiber tips out and start forming your dubbing brush

Use Polar Fiber, EP Fibers, Natural Furs and Craft Hair to change the color of the fibers. Brushes can be made half Inch, three quarter inch, even up to three inch widths, by measuring the length of your materials.

Dubbing brushes shown using EP Fibers and Krystal Flash.

TIP:

Once you start twisting the wire, the material forms a clump. Use a wire brush to comb out fibres tangled in the wire core. Stroke the fibers perpendicular to the wire core.

TIP:

Finished brushes can be attached just like a feather hackle! Wind the fur hackle around the shank and stroke the fibers rearward.

Tying an Articulated Steamer using brushes

Materials

3 - 10 mm Articulated

Fish-Spines 2 – 15 mm Articulated

Fish Spines Senyo’s Trailer Hook Wire Ahrex NS172 Curved Gammarus #6 Gamakatsu SL12s 3/0 Large Pearl Cactus Chenille Polar Fiber Dubbing Brush EP Fiber Dubbing Brush Chartreuse 3/0 Monocord thread Move the wings to the tie-in position. Using a pinch method, secure them at the 1/4 position of the hook behind the eye.

Tie a white marabou feather, 3 times the length of the 10mm shank, onto the first 10 mm shank. Wrap Polar Fiber brush two times around the shank. Attach the second 10 mm shank to the tail section.

Attach the Large Pearl Cactus Chenille.

Attach one Polar Fiber Dubbing brush.

Move the wings to the tie-in position. Using a pinch method, secure them at the 1/4 position of the hook behind the eye.

Wrap the dubbing brush two times around the shank.

Whip-finish. Add Bone Dry UV Resin or Super Glue to the wraps. Repeat this again for the third 10 mm shank.

Insert the AHREX NS172 Curved Gammarus size six in your vise. Wrap a layer of thread on the shank.

Tie in Intruder Trailer Hook Wire.

Slip the 3-10 mm tail section through the hook wire. Form a loop and secure the wire to the shank of the hook. Add super glue or UV resin to secure the wire.

Tie in a piece of Large Pearl Cactus Chenille at the bend of the hook.

Wrap the chenille to the half way point of the shank of the hook.

Tie in a polar fiber brush.

Wrap the polar fiber brush two or three times, whip-finish and coat the wraps with UV Resin or Super Glue.

Attach a 15 mm Articulated Fish Spine shank.

Attach the 15 mm shank in the vise. Tie in the pearl Cactus Chenille. Wrap the chenille two times.

Tie in a polar fiber brush and wrap it two times around the shank. Comb fibers to make sure they are not trapped by the tying thread. Whipfinish and coat the wraps with super glue or UV Resin. Repeat this for one more 15 mm shank.

Attach the Gamakatsu SL12S size 3/0 hook in the vise. Attach the Trailer Hook Wire and form a loop to attach the trailer hook section. Coat the shank with super glue or UV Resin.

At the bend of the hook, tie in a polar fiber brush. Make two to three wraps, stroking the fibers rearward. Tie in the large pearl cactus chenille. Make two wraps.

Wrap EP Fiber dubbing brush behind the eye of the hook. Whipfinsh. Add two ice eyes to each side of the head of the fly. Apply Flex UV Resin to the head of the fly.

Just add water and wait for the big ones to get hooked!

Jerry Coviello

Fly Fishers International Fly Tying Group Chairperson. Jerry has recently received the Fly Fishers International Buz Buszek Memorial Fly Tying Award, he serves on the FFI Education Committee, and as newsletter editor for Delaware Valley Fly Fishers, an FFI Affiliate Club in Bucks County Pennsylvania. Fly tying demonstrator at the FFI Fly Fishing Fair, International Fly Tying Symposium, and the Edison Fly Fishing Show. Fly tying instructor at Project Healing Waters in Sellersville, Pennsylvania. Member of Pro Teams for Dyna-King Vise, Ewing Feathers, and Solarez UV Resin.