Dark Hare's Ear Spider (Leisenring Style)

[letumgo]

Dark Hare's Ear Spider
Hook - Daiichi Model 1510/Size 12
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk/Grey
Hackle - Indian Hen Saddle/Creamy Speckled Brown
Body - Leisenring-Style Silk Dubbing Brush (Dark Hare's Ear Dubbing on Grey Gossamer Silk treated with Cobblers Wax)

[letumgo]

It has been a while since I've posted a fly. Here is a simple spider pattern tyed with a Leisenring-style silk dubbing brush.

Ruard ask recently asked about dubbing blocks, so I dusted off my dubbing block and made up a dubbing brush using grey Pearsall's Gossamer silk. Here is a photo of the Clark dubbing block I made a while back.

[letumgo]

Here is another dubbing block I use for making wire dubbing brushes.


This photo shows the dubbing brush after it has been twisted.


The wire breaks of cleanly at the end of the twisting process.

[Soft-hackle]

Hi Ray,
While I like the idea of the wire core brush very much, my favorite is still the Leisenring method. I imagine the wire core would be easy to use since it will not come unwound, and the wire adds extra weight. I've never fashioned a brush with wire. Guess I'll have to try it, soon. Nice fly, too!.

Mark

[letumgo]

Mark - The fly shown above is tyed with a Pearsall's Gossamer silk core, not a wire dubbing brush. I used the wooden Clark dubbing block to make a silk dubbing brush using hares ear dubbing. I was in a hurry earlier so I had included the photos of the wire dubbing brush maker. Sorry for the confusion.

[Soft-hackle]

No confusion, Ray. Just thinking the wire brush has some positive chraracteristics.

Mark

[DOUGSDEN]

Ray,
You really caught my interest esp. with the wire dubbing brush "machine". That's a very interesting design. I would imagine the form fit the function. At least that's how it appears and that's also the mark of a good machinist!
I have been kicking around the idea of making such a machine for some time now. I hope you don't mind if I borrow a design idea or two from you photographs? By the way, the fly looks excellent! It wouldn't last long around these parts tossed into one of my favorite stillwaters.
What are the two round pcs. in each upper corner? A tensioner or hold-down of some sort?
Ever since one of our favorite main line vendors of flyfishing materials quite making "dubbing brushes" several years ago, the need for one of these machines has been great. I would imagine that you have a whole lot more control over things like wire diameter and brush diameter and thickness. Go ahead Ray, tell me it's very simple and very versitile. May I borrow some idea's too?
Always tinkering,
Dougsden

[letumgo]

Doug - Go ahead and build your own and modify the design however you see fit. It's easy and fun to make...

The wire dubbing block was not my idea. It is based on designs that I read about in an article by James Smith, as well as Jan Siman's Turbo Spinner Block design (http://shop.siman.cz/art_turbo_spinning ... ctions.pdf). The Summer 2007 edition of Fly Tyer Magazine had an article giving detailed step-by-step instructions for making your own Turbo Dubbing Twister tool. After reading the article, I spent an enjoyable day making my own dubbing twister.

I stole the bearings out of the wheels on an old pair of my kids in-line roller blades. I built mine with two bearings instead of the single one listed in the article. I put one set of bearings on each end of the Xacto blade holder to make it more stable. I found the other parts (pipe strap, handle and screws) at a local Ace Hardware store. I think I spent around $15 for the components. I could have cut this down to less than $10, but I used the more expensive thread tensioners.

I decided to paint the wood a solid white color to make it easier to see how much dubbing was added to the center slot. I changed the clips by substituting thread tensioners I bought from Cabelas. I used a Sharpie Marker to add markings along the edge of the dubbing slot to make it easy to make consistent dubbing brushes (repeatable lengths of different colors of dubbing).

The white block looked a little plain (stark) so I jazzed it up by adding some Jungle Cock Nails to decorate the top of it. Overall, I am happy with the way it came out.

[DOUGSDEN]

Ray,
Thanks for the response. The jungle cock nails are a real nice touch. Have you ever noticed that no artist, that I have ever known, has ever been able to duplicate the subtle beauty in one of these feathers? There is something about a jungle cock feather!
I like your overall design of the spinning block. I think you should manufacture and market them. Is there any modifications or changes that you would have liked to have done since you made this block?
This all got started actually when I went to order some dubbing brushes from Hareline dubbin' Co. several years back. I couldn't find them anymore. I contacted Hareline and they responded quickly. The gentleman explained that no one was buying them much so they quite making them. They were kinda unusual....the dubbing brushes that is. Do you remember them? They were about 8" long and came in different colors. I always liked the light and dark hares ear variety. But, they only came in one diameter and that was kinda husky. Size 8 or 10 was about right and you could squeeze them onto a size 12 but that was pushing it.
They were trimmed to a certain diameter which, after wrapping them to the head of the fly, you could trim the butt end to give it a neat, tapered look.
However, I like yours better! It's more akin to the traditional flymph body style (only as I perceive and like it) and is evidenced by your pattern above.
Suppers ready. I'll continue with this later.
Dougsden

[DOUGSDEN]

Ok. Where was I? Supper was quite good by the way. I really like the looks of the fly you posted at the top of this thread (your orig. post). It is just plain buggy and that's really cool.
So many times we as flyfishers prove over and over again that's it's the mere impression of an insect that proves fatal to fish. I know there is room for improvements always but let's not be too hasty and be satisfied with beautiful patterns such as yours and others on this forum. Great job Ray! I look forward to more correspondence with you on this and many other great subjects.
Yours,
Dougsden

(Apple cake with creamy white icing for dessert....Yum!)