Dun Honey Flymph (Hidy/Leisenring Style)

[letumgo]

Dun Honey Flymph
Thread - Pearsall's Gossamer Silk (Ash/No. 10)
Hook - Mustad Model R50/94848 (Size 12)
Hackle - Honey Dun Hen Neck Feather (Natural)
Tail - Honey Dun Hen Fibers (Natural)
Body - Silk Dubbing Brush (Natural Dun Hares Ear Dubbing on 11 Inches* of Waxed Ash Silk)
* Yeah, I measure the silk. I'm an engineer. I can't help myself.

I spent the afternoon making dubbing brushes with my new dubbing block (Thanks Lance). I made up a whole set of dubbing brushes, to play around with. Lance/William - I am really digging these dubbing brush cards. They are a perfect thickness/stiffness for holding these brushes.




As I study the fly and photo of the dubbing brushes, I think I need to lighten up on the amount of dubbing used to make the brushes. I thought I was going light, but it still looks like too much dubbing. Practice practice practice.

[DUBBN]

The Honey Dun makes everything look great! I am glad you are having fun with those dubbing brushes. It's always good to see the traditional methods used with such great skill. Well done Ray!

[Mataura mayfly]

Simply beautiful work Ray. Great clean simplistic lines, great vintage look and tied VERY well. Body taper and thorax wraps of the hackle are both wonderfully executed. Top marks.

Love that bobbin holder. I do not have one the correct size for those wee reels. I also have the nasty habit of too much dubbing in spun bodies formed on the block, but you can usually pinch out what you do not need before bringing the rib forward. Good way to get your taper looking right, the pinch out.

[letumgo]

Thanks guys. I need to work on this a bit more, to get the dubbing proportions "right". I made myself work with tweezers today. Usually I just use my thumb & index finger to pull out the amount of dubbing I need. However, when working with the waxed silk, the wax was getting on my fingers. Every time I tried to let go of the dubbng, it kept sticking on my fingers. The tweezer method seemed to work well, but it takes a bit of practice.

Good tips Jeff. Thanks buddy.

[CreationBear]

on 11 Inches* of Waxed Ash Silk)
* Yeah, I measure the silk. I'm an engineer. I can't help myself

And I'm reminded of the old joke about why there are so few female engineers...

Great looking fly...I was just thinking I needed to scare up a honey dun or light ginger cape myself.

[chase creek]

Lovely fly, Ray. A true flymph!
With the bodies I've attempted using a dubbing block (not very many) I had the same problem with the dubbing sticking to my fingers when I took my hand away. I use tweezers also, and found this type is most comfortable to use. It helps that my wife is a Dental Hygientist. They sure have some cool tools at her office!
I also remember someone (AK Best?) suggested wearing a shop apron while tying so you could wipe your fingers without wiping them on your "Sunday Go To Meetin' " pants.

IMG_6005.JPG (75.62 KiB) Viewed 5805 times

[letumgo]

Is there a special name for this type of tweezers? They look ideal for this application. The bend (offset?) probably makes them easier to pick up too. Thanks Rodger.

[chase creek]

Hi Ray.
I'll ask my wife in the morning about the tweezers, she's down for the night now. I sometimes forget she's still working (and I'm not)
I know they throw tools out when they get new ones, so if you don't complain too much on your next visit, maybe they could
slip a couple in your pocket. The regular pics are useful, too.
There's also a little drill-bit kinda thing they use for root canals, pictured below. They toss those after they use them. They come in different sizes, but the largest size is perfect for roughing up dubbed bodies on small flies. I have one that I put into a buffalo tooth handle.

IMG_6007.JPG (73.51 KiB) Viewed 5799 times

Didn't mean to pull this thread off in another direction - proceed as you were.

[Mataura mayfly]

Iffin you were to take to a pair of your wives needle nose tweezers (without being caught) and took to them with the butane torch....... you might just be able to bend them into an offset? I am not sure.... I get into enough trouble pinching Christmas deco's.

Chase Creek, be banished from my sight! Those are the most evil pain educing sons of ....... dental tools out there..... sure beats the abscessed tooth though.

[DUBBN]

Iffin you were to take to a pair of your wives needle nose tweezers (without being caught) and took to them with the butane torch....... you might just be able to bend them into an offset? I am not sure.... I get into enough trouble pinching Christmas deco's.

Chase Creek, be banished from my sight! Those are the most evil pain educing sons of ....... dental tools out there..... sure beats the abscessed tooth though.

I agree. I almost passed out from the thought of those nasty looking tools being pushed into my grill!