Post by Charlie Dickson on Feb 13, 2008 15:41:17 GMT -5
Sheep wool is a very interesting and underutilized material for fly tying. It can be spun and trimmed to shape just like deer hair, but it absorbs water and is much less buoyant than deer hair. This makes it a very good material for tying muddler type flies. Below is how I tie a wool head sculpin using a tube. The metal tube helps the fly get to the bottom much quicker (were sculpins live) than a regular hook. A regular streamer hook can be used instead of a tube if you wish.
Tube: Brass, Copper or Aluminum.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel
Body: Olive squirrel dubbing.
Wing: Olive dyed rabbit strip tied in with rib matuka style.
Pectoral fins: Small olive dyed duck flank feathers curving away from the body.
Head: Olive sheep wool spun and trimmed to a bullet shape.
Place a tube in your tube fly vise or holder. In this case I am using a 1.5 inch low profile copper tube. Then start some olive thread on the tube.
Tie in a piece of oval gold tinsel on the bottom of the tube. This will act as the rib. Remember to leave about an eighth of an inch of the tube exposed at the back end of the tube to put the junction tubing in place.
Wrap some olive dubbing onto the tube for the body of the fly. Cover about two thirds of the tube with dubbing.
At this point you can add a small band of red dubbing to represent gills. This is an optional step.
Next tie in a rabbit strip by the tip on top of the tube.
At this point I like to wet the rabbit strip slightly to make it easier to work with.
Now rib the rabbit strip matuka style with the oval gold tinsel.
Next tie in two small olive dyed duck flank feathers curving away from the body, one on ether side of the tube. These will represent the pectoral fins of the sculpin.
Now cut off three or four pieces of sheep wool each about the size around of a pencil.
Distribute them around the tube in front of the duck flank feathers and take two wraps of thread around them and pull it tight.
Work the tread through the wool until it is in front then repeat this process until you reach the front of the tube.
At this point you can whip finish the head and add some head cement.
Start trimming the wool with a pair of sharp scissors.
The head should be oval shaped and fairly flat on the top and bottom.
Tube: Brass, Copper or Aluminum.
Rib: Oval gold tinsel
Body: Olive squirrel dubbing.
Wing: Olive dyed rabbit strip tied in with rib matuka style.
Pectoral fins: Small olive dyed duck flank feathers curving away from the body.
Head: Olive sheep wool spun and trimmed to a bullet shape.
Place a tube in your tube fly vise or holder. In this case I am using a 1.5 inch low profile copper tube. Then start some olive thread on the tube.
Tie in a piece of oval gold tinsel on the bottom of the tube. This will act as the rib. Remember to leave about an eighth of an inch of the tube exposed at the back end of the tube to put the junction tubing in place.
Wrap some olive dubbing onto the tube for the body of the fly. Cover about two thirds of the tube with dubbing.
At this point you can add a small band of red dubbing to represent gills. This is an optional step.
Next tie in a rabbit strip by the tip on top of the tube.
At this point I like to wet the rabbit strip slightly to make it easier to work with.
Now rib the rabbit strip matuka style with the oval gold tinsel.
Next tie in two small olive dyed duck flank feathers curving away from the body, one on ether side of the tube. These will represent the pectoral fins of the sculpin.
Now cut off three or four pieces of sheep wool each about the size around of a pencil.
Distribute them around the tube in front of the duck flank feathers and take two wraps of thread around them and pull it tight.
Work the tread through the wool until it is in front then repeat this process until you reach the front of the tube.
At this point you can whip finish the head and add some head cement.
Start trimming the wool with a pair of sharp scissors.
The head should be oval shaped and fairly flat on the top and bottom.