Australian possum dubbing

[daringduffer]

Playing with dubbing is very rewarding. I enjoy it very much. It's almost a hobby in itself.

dd

[letumgo]

John,

Very cool! Please post the nymphs, when you tie them. I’m interested in seeing them.

That dubbing looks great.

[bearbutt]

Fran's rusty orange possum isa mainstay for many of his patterns--not just the Ausable Wulff, but also the Ausable Caddis, and his Bomber--he also tied Mini Muddlers with it. Every year I'd go into the shop in Wilmington in the 1990s and 00s, I'd buy a couple of bags of dubbing--the shading varied, and that is part of the beauty of it--and Fran: nothing was consistent. Like nature itself.




Mini-muddlers tied by Fran:



Bomber (sans possum) and Wulff, both also tied by Fran:




bb

[BrkTrt]

BB, I agree that Fran's Aust. Possum dubbing could have some color differences.

Here are a couple of patches from various bags of dubbing I picked up in his shop.

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I like using the darker spiky fur for the thorax on many of my flies.

Alan

[Theroe]

thats some GREAT material you picked up, Alan....very nice indeed. I really like your patters as well. It seems to me you ALWAYS have/use some sort of slick hooks....what make would they be??



Dana

[narcodog]

I have an entire AO hide, red phase, they come in gray and red and like all animals there is many different shades of fur. I imagine that when they dyed they would dye the entire hide, probably several.

[letumgo]

Does anyone know the specific "formula" Fran used to dyed these skins? Is the color formula something that she would be willing to share and pass down?

[wsbailey]

Betters dyed the dubbing rusty orange. Jacquard burnt orange would probably work.

[BrkTrt]

thats some GREAT material you picked up, Alan....very nice indeed. I really like your patters as well. It seems to me you ALWAYS have/use some sort of slick hooks....what make would they be??



Dana

Dana, I use Hanak, and Firehole Sticks....the latter is a great hook and reasonably priced.

Alan