M'ole Grey Hen

[Izaak]

Hook: Mustad Signature R50, size 16
Thread: Pearsall's Gossamer silk, grey
Hackle: Dark tan dun hen (4 wraps)
Body: tying silk
Ribbing: tying silk touch dubbed with mole and wound in open turns

[Izaak]

pardon the hook..... pretty nasty looking.

[Kelly L.]

I really like the fly, it looks deadly.

[Mataura mayfly]

That is not an evil hook! Mustad do some much more nasty looking point and barb set-up's than that.
The R50 does not look too dissimilar to one of Hans' (and my) favourite wet fly hooks, the B 175 Kamasan, Hans just likes to crush the barb nowadays.

I do like the way you held off the dubbing until the rib comes forward, nice technique.
How was the dubbing applied? Waxed and touched?
Are you tying your Hen hackle in by the tip of the feather?

[Izaak]

How was the dubbing applied? Waxed and touched?
Are you tying your Hen hackle in by the tip of the feather?

I spun the bobbin holder to get the twist completely out, then waxed the thread, applied a fine about of mole fur, then spun the bobbin holder again to put the twist back in the thread and in doing so gripping the mole in the twisted thread. I tied the feather in by the stem right behind the eye, wrapping it towards the hook bend, being careful not to prick my finger on the rusty looking hook for fear of getting tetanus!

[Hans Weilenmann]

I spun the bobbin holder to get the twist completely out, then waxed the thread, applied a fine about of mole fur, then spun the bobbin holder again to put the twist back in the thread and in doing so gripping the mole in the twisted thread.

You have lost me here, Tom - unless the mole somehow ended up inbetween thread filaments, how would twisting the thread 'grip' the mole?

Curious in the Low Places

Hans W

[Izaak]

Some of the dubbing would become bound between the turns of thread as the twist was put back into the thread. Not all of it of course... Or did I just invent a new, but brilliant ineffectual technique?

[Hans Weilenmann]

Some of the dubbing would become bound between the turns of thread as the twist was put back into the thread. Not all of it of course... Or did I just invent a new, but brilliant ineffectual technique?

I grant you that some mole will get trapped as the ribbing turns go on

Seriously, I would love to be proven wrong, I simply cannot visualize why putting twist back into the thread would trap mole in any meaningful way.

[Izaak]

Curious....has anyone else heard about or seen this technique? I have.... just saying.....

[Bear007]

I've heard of spinning the thread as you are touch dubbing, I believe its the same principle.