Spinning Deer Hair

[Red.Fly]

I've always spun my deer hair in clumps and packed it together as tight as possible before spinning the next clump of hair in. I was tying with a guy a while back and he tied his flies by dubbing deer hair to make a hair brush and then wrapping it on to form the body. Having pretty much taught myself how to tie and doing the same thing for 20 years, it got me thinking how most people spin hair. Am I doing it like most everybody else, or is dubbing deer hair the more common practice? What is the reason to do it one way over the other? Any insight you guys can share would be appreciated. I'd hate to think I've been doing it "wrong" for 20 years.

[JayMorr]

Was he using a dubbing block? Also did you notice if he was using wire or just thread? This has now perked my interest and given me some ideas!

I have never tried spinning Deers hair this way. I am going to give it a shot.

[Red.Fly]

He was just using waxed monocord thread. No dubbing block. I've tried it and made successful heads with it. It appears to take less hair and less time, but less hair probably means less bouyancy. It appears to work better when you clip the tips off of the hair and just spin 1" - 1 1/2" of the hair butts. I'm undecided as to whether this is a better method or not.

[cheech]

I've always spun my deer hair in clumps and packed it together as tight as possible before spinning the next clump of hair in. I was tying with a guy a while back and he tied his flies by dubbing deer hair to make a hair brush and then wrapping it on to form the body. Having pretty much taught myself how to tie and doing the same thing for 20 years, it got me thinking how most people spin hair. Am I doing it like most everybody else, or is dubbing deer hair the more common practice? What is the reason to do it one way over the other? Any insight you guys can share would be appreciated. I'd hate to think I've been doing it "wrong" for 20 years.


You do it the way I do it. based on your bonus fly, I'd say that you've got a good idea on how to do it well. No need to switch if you do it right.

[Junthor]

speaking of which....
does could anyone direct me to a place that has a good demo on how to spin hair.. I don;t know how to do it...

actually, Not even CLOSE

[Marty]

I do it both ways. When I want a fly to sink fast I use a dubbing loop with thread and spin dub the hair. I still fish a few patterns with a spun head, mostly for steelhead. I have switched to wool for most of my trout flies.