DIY Fly Tying Dubbing - Fox, Squirrel, Raccoon, Synthetic - BIG money saver!

Not only can you save a LOT of money by making your own fly tying dubbing, you can make custom blends that work for any fishing application you can think of.
This easy method can be used to make all sorts of synthetic or any fur dubbing such as squirrel, raccoon, fox, opossum, mink, muskrat... or any fur you want to try.
Some of the items mentioned in the video:
Krups dubbing mixer: amzn.to/39KPg3Z
Large dubbing container: amzn.to/3mSEeO6
Small plastic bags: amzn.to/3lQCcMZ
Acrylic yarn: amzn.to/3mPglqA
Angelina fibers: amzn.to/3gtO1rz
Savage Flies is a project with the mission of encouraging and teaching fly tying to as many people as possible. The channel is named after one of my western Maryland homewaters, the Savage River. I've been uploading at least three new videos a week (usually Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).
Thanks for stopping by. Please let me know in the comments if you have any tying tips you would like to share or if you have any patterns you would like to see tied here.

[@rebelsqk]

A used dryer sheet wiped around inside the grinder an work area as needed really helps with the static. Unless you live alone an like it. Get a grinder an clearly mark it for FUR!

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding tip! I'm going to pin this comment so others will see it too. (Added bonus- your dubbing will smell nice and fresh.)

[@huntingmissouri5420]

And use a dryer sheet on hair stacker!!

[@SavageFlies]

@@huntingmissouri5420 -Another great idea! I've never even thought about that, but sometimes hair does stick a bit in the stacker. Genius!

[@Francois_Dupont]

somebody did this and caught fish? i fear chemicals will remain on the hairs.

[@domenicomonteleone3055]

@@SavageFlieshi 👋 from 🇨🇦 #YSW where I follow you 💯 from

[@edwardthornton1031]

My wife has plenty of yarn and we haven’t used the coffee grinder in a long time. She offered to run with your ideas! We have a long haired orange tabby and I have made flies and dubbing with his fur. Thanks for the ideas Matt

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Edward! Judith must be a very understanding wife. :-) I've got a gray and orange cat but haven't resorted to giving either of them a hair cut to replenish my fly tying materials!

[@thomasdurkin8719]

I was going to post a question about using pet fur, but I guess that you have answered that before I asked it. I will have to get my sister, the crazy cat lady of the family, to send me some orange tabby fur.

[@rayedwards7070]

you can use lining from old gloves/boots from used CLOTHING STORES...also stuffing from pillows, quilts, blankets, ... old jackets. There are endless sources that you haven't even explored! Do some more thinking and you will get ideas that will keep you busy till you get to be 100 years old.. BE CREATIVE. Try old pom poms from H.S. cheerleaders.

[@FlyTyer1948]

Thanks Matt. Great topic & timing. The Red Heart brand acrylic is what Gary LaFontaine used for his Sparkle Pupa & related flies(in 1 - 2” lengths) for the pupa or as a trailing shuck. He said it created the right sparkle because it’s tri-lobal, I.e. 3 sided for reflective quality. I’ve never made bulk dubbing, only small amounts by hand using scissors & a lot of labor. Your methods are a lot faster & easier. Hmm ... the hair clippers & dog brush I have ... but can I convince my wife that we really don’t need the coffee grinder for coffee anymore? Gonna be a hard sell. I’ve already tried on roadkill. Sadly that was a total no-go with threats of leaving me by the side of the road along with the body. At least yarn is safe.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Bob-- I did not know that but it makes me feel even better about my choice of yarn. If a master like Gary LaFontaine uses it, there has to be some merit to it. :-)

[@bryanandryszak925]

HI, Matt. What about using WOOL ROVER to make dubbing using the coffee grinder method? How good would it be compared to synthetics, and would you recommend using it? Thanks.

[@kalikasurf]

Dog fur grows back, right? Asking for a friend. 😂

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! My cat’s has. 🤣

[@kalikasurf]

@@SavageFlies ha ha

[@tannerpeavy3356]

I like how you mix the natural animal furs with the different color yarns to customize what you want. Coffee grinder in a great idea.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Tanner! I just bought a bunch of furs from your recommendation. Haven't received them yet, but hopefully soon. I plan on doing a video on dyeing soon so stay tuned for that. :-)

[@robbiek1999]

Matt, I can't thank you enough for making this video. This was one of the best videos I have seen and something I have been wanting to do for a long time. I will be getting a coffee grinder now.

[@SavageFlies]

You are most welcome! I tell you, I love mixing my own dubbing blends. I have my grinder always plugged in under my bench and I don't hesitate to grab it when I think a mix I'm about to use could use a little flash or sparkle thrown in. So I don't always mix up a bunch at a time. Sometimes I'll make just enough for the handful of flies I'm tying at the moment. But one word of caution if you do that... you might make a cool blend, take it out and it looks great in the water and catches a few fish, then you go back and totally forgot how you made it. If I'm smart, I'll put the blend in a little Ziploc bag and write what's in it "just in case" I ever want to make it again. :-)

[@robbiek1999]

@@SavageFlies Matt, I went to Dollar Tree and bought acrylic yarn in multiple colors. I wound up making my version of a hare's ear that was as good as store bought dubbing and made some cressbug flies. I do have one last question though. You mentioned some flash. I read online that people either use some antron yarn or angelina fibers mixed in. What have you had success with? Again, thanks so much...

[@michaelmerlino6753]

I forgot one thing,spray your grinder with “Static Guard”,a light spray makes it easier to clean it for the next mix.

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, and one other commenter mentions using dryer sheets as well. I'm definitely going to try that next time. :-)

[@RyanAshley419]

You should do more DIY videos like this. I have long advocated that fly tying material is often far too commercialized and expensive these days. I think it drives potential tyers away because of budget concerns.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ryan, and I agree 100%. I mean, I advocate supporting your local fly shop whenever possible, but the price of some tying materials can certainly be frustrating. I did do some shopping at a Hobby Lobby recently and I'm thinking of doing another craft store materials video soon. Thanks for the note!

[@MrMandelll]

Supernice tips. Already using the coffeygrinder making my own dubbings. Too bad I'm allergic and getting awful reactions from natural furs. Not that it's stopping me from making all the nice dubbings, but it's a pain :)

[@graygbill2037]

Great video. I've been hitting the craft stores too. A couple things I use are the holographic bows & ribbons and the little craft pom-poms. If you cut the pom-poms in the middle they expand to a nice fine material that dubbs well. Dollar stores seem to have limited colors, only black and white. The holographic ribbon is great to cut up for nymphs.

[@SavageFlies]

That's a great idea! Which pom-poms are you talking about? I think I can envision seeing some in craft stores, but are they the small ones you might find in the sewing section? The ones about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter? Or are you talking about something bigger? I'd like to give this a try!

[@graygbill2037]

@@SavageFliesI use the small ones, 1/2 to an inch in size. They're kind of like a doughnut so I just poke a thin scissors into the middle and cut the small thread loop that holds them together. Bright yellow and green are fantastic. Your coffee grinder & yarn method works with a blender if you put a smaller lid inside to keep everything close to the blades. Now I'm going to experiment with adding some cut up holographic ribbon slivers to the yarn to make a version of ice dub.

[@davidhughes2622]

Hi from Kansas City 🎣🤠 Dave Hughes. I also use a coffee grinder but on the static problem I use unsented or just a damp cotton rag and then a dried cotton rag.. a 🐠 can smell like 200 times better than us so I even wash-up before using distilled water because City water contains fluoride and a bunch of other junk in it even clorine and ammonia too. You have a great 👍 brunch of videos keep-up the good work and thanks always 🎣🤠 Dave Hughes

[@workforit2270]

I know this is an older video. And I've watched it a few times. I am wondering if it's my wax that I am using or my technique is not correct, but it seems that I can't get the dubbing to stick to the string. I have tried different pressures to apply the dubbing to the string, but I can't get a noodle to save my life. Do you have any way you could maybe demonstrate this small step? Or just give me some hints. Thank you for all your videos they have taught me how to fly a tie. Even though I'm not an expert, you haven't helped to make it enjoyable.

[@nlcirque]

Thanks for the great video. I’ve been looking forward to this and you definitely delivered a keeper! A few questions popped up 1.) Are wool yarns an option as well or would you steer clear of them for making dubbing? What would the properties be of the finished product when using acrylic vs. wool? 2.) For animals with tail fur (e.g. fox, squirrel, etc...), do you use it the same way or do you only make the dubbing from body fur? 3.). Lastly, other that the natural colors of the fur, are there significant differences in the characteristics of different animals that guide you to choose one animal fur over another?

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Nathan-- I appreciate the kind words! I'll answer the best I can... 1. Wool yarn will definitely work. It can be a bit more expensive though. I will also make a wool blend (without any fur added) as lots of recipes call for a wool dubbing. 2. I mostly only make dubbing from the body fur, but some animals' tails actually have enough underfur in them that you can make a decent dubbing. I've made some with a coyote tail before (very buggy, and only used on big nymphs), and raccoon tail as well. But for the most part, I couldn't tell the difference between dubbing made from a raccoon's tail and its body. A fox tail might be akin to a coyote, but I wouldn't try dubbing from a squirrel tail. I just don't think it would work well at all. Squirrel tails make great hair wings, but that's about it. 3. Yes, furs definitely have different characteristics worth noting. The rodents that live in or near water (beaver, muskrats, nutria) have a more waxy underfur which can actually make them more water repellent. And if they're used in wets or nymphs, they'll hold small air bubbles that can give the bug a translucent quality. The more land-based varmints like raccoons or opossums have a less waxy underfur, and it can be finer, almost a wool-like quality. So what is best to use and when? That's a million dollar question! I mostly listen to the pattern's creator, or just go by the recipe. Unless I'm experimenting and then I just wing it. I think really serious and innovative tiers will try different mixes and check them out in tanks, with different currents and light conditions. Not something I really do, but maybe someday. :-) Great questions Nathan, and thanks for asking! Cheers. -Matt

[@noellambert8817]

I have to strip my dogs coat a couple times a year and it's incredibly fine black fur that coat floats on the wind. Now you've got me wondering.🤔

[@secondstartotheright]

Your videos are pure fly tying GOLD!!!

[@SavageFlies]

Wow, that's a cool compliment to hear my friend. Thanks for watching!

[@seizedcarcass8440]

Is rabbit dubbing good for dry flies? A Friend of mine has two rabbits and gets tons of for for me. Also I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about using my cats fur after brushing him but he’s solid grey. Not necessarily a color I’d use much

[@TheMattcwynar]

How many naked animals are running around near his house that he caught and shaved them. lol That's all I could picture after this stuffed animal squirrel demo.

[@southernexposure123]

Barber shop, beauty shop, pet groomer floor sweepings.

[@MichaelJohnson-lx1lc]

Great video, you have inspired me to ask my son to give me some of the animal pelts from his bow hunting!

[@icefisher1171]

When you pick up roadkill, how do you "process?" it for use? Love your videos. I've learned a lot from watching you and I greatly appreciate it.

[@SavageFlies]

I don't go through all the trouble of tanning anything. For a hide like raccoon, oppossum or fox, I just skin it, maybe tack the pelt to a piece of plywood (fur side toward the board) and cover it with salt for a day or two to dry it out. It'll be all stiff after it's dried, but that's fine. As long as you scrape the underside pretty clean it won't attract bugs or start stinking.

[@tedbeverly6052]

Can you use human hair. Woke up the other morning and the wife was bald head, can’t imagine what happened!

[@philipvankampen3394]

Maybe one of your best videos

[@katep4485]

If you reach into the center of the yarn skein and pull the center clump out you can find the center end of the yarn. Then you can pull from that and it won't roll all over the place.

[@robertbrander2074]

Great Video ! ... What about using Human Hair for fly tying ? ... I got lots of it , and it keeps growing ! .... And can you color your hairs and yarns with Permanent Magic Markers to tweak your presentations ? .... Cheers !

[@SavageFlies]

Ha, thanks Robert! I don't see why you couldn't use human hair. Of course I'd have to use facial hair as I wouldn't get much dubbing from the top of my head. :-)

[@davidhughes2622]

Great show, really liked the different ideas. When I'm up at the carpet store I get little patches of samples. Take a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out single threads and put them in my coffee grinder.🎣🤠 good luck always Dave Hughes

[@SavageFlies]

That's a great idea David! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@joeg5414]

I just bought this 1 pound bag of scrap fur pieces from a leather guy on ebay. stuffed with beaver, rabbit, raccoon, fox, coyote, sheep and some others I'm not sure about😂 I'm quite happy though. Cheap too.

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding Joe! You're going to have some fun with all that. :-)

[@Tilgidh]

I do not know if you wil still get this message. I just found your channel and love what you do. I have a penny saver for you regarding Tube Flies. I have been using coffee stir sticks and old medical oxygen lines. Or my daughter's Caprisun straws and old oxygen line. They tie rather nicely. Especially for larger tube flies. The Caprisun straws are thicker and more durable. If you do purchase coffee straws, get one box of colored and one of black. The black is smaller and slides inside the color coffee straws making the coffee straw firm and thicker. It is a tight fit. Regards, Johnny

[@SavageFlies]

I got it Johnny. I still try to check comments every couple of days. And I appreciate the tips! I've never even thought about using coffee stirring sticks or Caprisun straws. I'll definitely keep this in mind if I ever learn to tie tube flies. :-)

[@MayheM_72]

I have family and friends looking in thrift shops and such for cheap old fur coats, wigs, etc for fur and hair. I cut my own hair, and it's short, grey, and curly, so I saved some for dubbing, as well. I've used yarn and a dog brush for dubbing, too. I probably should check thrift shops for an old coffee grinder, too. Yeah...I'm a broke fly tyer...LoL

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! It's been a long time since I've had enough hair to even consider using my own. :-) But I did buy some kind of fur stole from a thrift shop back in the fall. I can't quite tell if it's rabbit or fox, but it was a pretty big piece for two bucks so whatever it is, it's good cheap dubbing. :-)

[@stevenwiersma1800]

Recommendation * Use polypropylene yarns for Dry Fly Dubbing and parachute posts, lower density than water floats like a cork. Bonnie Braid 2mm macramé yarn is polypropylene, comes in various colors * Use Angel Hair to add sparkle/flash to dubbing. Actually purchase at fly shop, fairly inexpensive.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Steven! I've never tried polypropylene yarn but I do add the Angel Hair to get the sparkle. I appreciate the note. :-)

[@edwardchavez5627]

Very interesting I think I can do that Sir Matt. I appreciate this cool video. it's nice to always have a little go to, to save a little money. our hobby can get expensive but it's also worth it. And techniques like this help save money. Your awesome Sir Matt thanks.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Edward! Appreciate the nice comment. Hope you're having a great weekend. :-)

[@rustymeadows3482]

Yard sale yarn works good.😇

[@lisagibson9404]

Thift stores to!

[@HannesBerlin]

Hello! I'm 14 years old from Sweden with a great passion for fly tying! Your videos are inspirational, good work! Thanks for all the help 😊💯

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you my friend! I appreciate the kind words. Good luck in your tying and let me know if you ever have any Swedish flies you'd like me to try for the channel. :-)

[@HannesBerlin]

@@SavageFlies Thanks! 🤗 Thats a hard question. I would probably say the Swedish made "ms supperpuppa". Cant the name in English but its basically a emerging dragonfly 👍

[@Francois_Dupont]

the little coffee blender trick looks to work amazing. cant wait for my next trip to the dollar store (with the current gas price it cost me 20$ of gas just to drive there do i am doing only a single trip a month to the city).

[@SavageFlies]

Yikes! That's an expensive trip to town. I probably wouldn't go too often either. Thanks for the note Francois!

[@paulmerritt7540]

Thanks for the recommendation to experiment. That's really one of the benefits of making your own blends, as well as its repeatable, cheaper, and gives the ability to create your own secret dubbing mixes which are "all you". That is often much of the fun in creating flies that you designed. Also, water animals fur is what I like when tying floating flies because of the oils contained in natural fur (without a lot of processing). One key feature I like to put into my nymphs is a flat body shape, and having squirrel, muskrat, or a blended mixture lets me inexpensively change colors, plus these soft fine dubbings "dub" well so getting a nice thin dubbed thread allows wrapping the body over a flattened form easier than thicker body wrapping materials.

[@SavageFlies]

Great point Paul. I forget which pattern it was, but there is one nymph where the originator would dub a big body, coat the fur with varnish, let it sit for a couple of hours to get semi-hard, then smash it flat with pliers. And I'm 100% with you on aquatic mammals making great dry fly dubbing as their underfur is usually waxy as they depend on it being water repellent to keep dry.

[@TessySchuh]

Dubbing dog and fluff after a good brushing

[@Im118ish]

Yup...about to burn 40$ between walmart& the dollar store (to create what would've been over 200$ at a fly shop)🤣

[@SavageFlies]

No doubt you can save a ton making your own dubbing. But what I like best about it, is all the cool color and combination mixes you can make. Possum, acrylic and a little bit of muskrat? Throw in some wool yarn? Why not!

[@I_Tie_Flies]

@SavageFlies if I find a roadkill squirrel can I just cut the tail off and keep that and then shave the dead squirrel to keep the fur for dubbing? Or do I have to skin it and preserve the skin?

[@SavageFlies]

Absolutely, that's what I usually do! Just get a couple of Ziploc sandwich bags to put the shaved fur in. I usually put one squirrel's worth of fur per bag, but then you can fit 3-4 tails in a single bag.

[@alc609]

If I get up early and drive the backroads looking for roadkill on my way to get a cup of McDonalds coffee…Is that a issue? Lol

[@SavageFlies]

Hahaha! No issue with me! I've been known to take a back road when coming home just because I might get lucky and find a fresh raccoon. :-)

[@edherrmann182]

I appreciate the tutorial. I’ve been making my own dubbing for years. I even try to get my own bird pelts from chickens, roosters, pheasants and other birds. Fresh road kill is an excellent resource. Skinning a pelt that’s fresh is a quick process with a little practice. I shoot my own squirrels and other critters like rabbit , Fox, coyote, and others. Be sure to wear rubber gloves to prevent getting any diseases. I also collect deer tails when fresh as roadkill. Carry a sharp knife. I love this kind of stuff because it’s natural and saves money on expensive fly tying materials.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Ed, and you're 100% right. You can save a ton of money making your own dubbing from furs you pick up however you can get them. I appreciate the note my friend. :-)

[@danielyost9126]

Is there anything you can do to help stop static Dryer sheet ??

[@dalespencer803]

I have been tying a number of flies and the hackle material is horrible. Do you have any suggestions? What is the best way to purchase and where?

[@SavageFlies]

Hi Dale; thanks for the question! A lot of tiers are going to tell you that you need to go to a fly shop and look at it in person. And that's fine if you have easy access to a shop. But I know that's not practical for a lot of us. And since a lot of us do have to buy materials from online shops, you can generally go by a company's reputation for quality. For example, Whiting Farms is a hackle company. That's really all they do and they have some great stuff. It can be pricey but my rule of thumb is to buy the most expensive you're comfortable paying for. Note, I don't say buy the best quality you can afford. Plenty of tiers could afford to spend a hundred bucks for a Whiting silver-grade full dry fly cape in kingfisher blue, but if you tie four flies a year with it, that would be a crazy investment. Now a half cape of a bronze-grade in grizzly for $35 could be an excellent investment. So many dry flies call for a grizzly that if you tie a lot of dry flies for trout, you'll likely get your money's worth. Aside from Whiting, there are two other premium hackle providers that I'm familiar with. (There are probably others as well.) But I'm talking about Metz and Keough. I've had a few of their saddles and capes over the years and they've been excellent. Do note that different outfits use different grading criteria. Whiting uses bronze, silver and gold whereas others use the standard Grade #1, 2 and 3 I think. You can probably find out what exactly these mean on their websites. Hareline is another company worth considering but they aren't primarily hackle sellers. Some of their stuff is cheaper, but it's also not as good. That's not a knock on them as a company, as they have some great dubbing products, but a $10 neck "chunk" of their dry fly hackle will have a few good feathers but not enough to tie a lot of flies. So where to buy? I do a lot of ordering from these, probably in this order: J. Stockard, the Fly Shack, and the Caddis Fly shop. They've usually got a pretty good selection in stock. One last note, I did a hackle "primer" video last year. It might be helpful for you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGaZlGB3q9Zlf5I Thanks again for the note. Cheers. -Matt

[@davidhaddon2854]

I have been making my own dubbing like this for a while now but your vid is the best i have seen on making your own , well done and thank you , all the best , David.

[@SavageFlies]

Well thank you David! I appreciate the kind words my friend. :-)

[@DeboraExum]

Never would have imagined that this is a use for acrylic yarn. Nice to see your process, Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Debora! Experimenting with all this is one of the more fun aspects of tying. :-)

[@66bigbuds]

I wish I would have found a scane of yarn like that instead of buying 20.

[@SavageFlies]

Oh yeah, if you bought one skein for each color, you'd have enough of it for more than a lifetime!

[@saundratate6367]

Very useful and practical instruction as always. Thanks for the tips, keep ‘em coming! Keith

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Keith! Appreciate you watching my friend. 😁

[@SgtMantis]

"im just shaven a dead squirrel"

[@TessySchuh]

I have allergies to natural fur

[@TomMartin-w1n]

Fantastic video, thank you

[@kortharshman8790]

Great information, I'm not at all shy about animal pelts or where they come from particularly but do you need to clean them or cure them in some way?

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks for the note Kort. I don't do too much for any I harvest. I may tack them to a board, with the fur side down, and just coat the skin side with salt for a couple of days. That usually dries them pretty good. It does make them stiff but I'm not making hats so it works fine. And if I'm afraid the animal could have had some kind of bugs or mites, I'll cut the pelt into smaller pieces, put them in Ziploc freezer bags and throw in the freezer for a couple of days.

[@MrSurfangler]

Will the coffe grinder yarn dubbing be used to make egg patterns?

[@SavageFlies]

You might be able to use this type dubbing to make an egg pattern but I probably wouldn't and would just use a McFly foam which is much easier to get the bulk you'll need.

[@epsieblaine9558]

A great video Matt.I have made my own dubbing for years,and tell you what,fly tying to me is fun and making dubbing is too..Sure this video will help a lot of people.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Kenneth! You're a true veteran of the sport and I appreciate you watching and commenting to help others, particularly the new folks who will carry on the tradition after us. Cheers. -Matt

[@epsieblaine9558]

@@SavageFlies Let me add that there are a lot of thing to add or make dubbing,add a little steel wool to make a quick desent dubbing.Too many to mention, let the be the sky be the limint.

[@davidgaillard4485]

Bonjour et merci pour ces idees je ke fait avec du cdc deja mais pas pensé à a la laine

[@DressedIrons]

Very nice explanation and demonstration! Very thorough in covering all of the bases.

[@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING]

Do you have any suggestions for a problem that came up. My grinder doesn’t dub the acrylic good, it tangles up and makes a big ball. Would you know how to fix that?

[@SavageFlies]

How small are you cutting the pieces? Maybe try a little bit smaller, say a half inch or less. And remember a coffee grinder won't cut any fibers. It'll just mix them up.

[@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING]

@@SavageFlies Thanks! I’ll give it a try and let you know how it works!

[@SavageFlies]

@@SCYCOFISHINGHUNTING Awesome; I'd love to hear!

[@taxman0205]

I have to ask a stupid question. DO you need animal fur or could you just use yarn? Don't you worry about bugs or mites with fur? Is animal fur better? I have been turning for 4 weeks and know less then nothing. Thanks

[@SavageFlies]

That's a common question Randy. You can certainly make dubbing out of yarn with nothing else. A synthetic yarn (acrylic, polyester, or rayon) can make a great dubbing. In fact, if you buy a synthetic dubbing like a Superfine, it's probably made out of some mixture of these. Different animal furs will just give you different textures or bugginess. And generally different properties. Regarding bugs or mites, they're usually not a problem for most of us but you do want to be aware that they could become an issue. I've never had a bug or moth problem and I keep a lot of my furs and skins stored by tacking them up to a cork board.

[@SavageFlies]

That's a common question Randy. You can certainly make dubbing out of yarn with nothing else. A synthetic yarn (acrylic, polyester, or rayon) can make a great dubbing. In fact, if you buy a synthetic dubbing like a Superfine, it's probably made out of some mixture of these. Different animal furs will just give you different textures or bugginess. And generally different properties. Regarding bugs or mites, they're usually not a problem for most of us but you do want to be aware that they could become an issue. I've never had a bug or moth problem and I keep a lot of my furs and skins stored by tacking them up to a cork board.

[@harryjoesather6539]

HEY MATT THAT WAS AMAZINGLY COOL....VERY RESOURCEFUL...ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS...THANKS MATT ....HAVE A AWESOME DAY....SEE YA JOE

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Joe! I'll do another DIY dubbing after the DIY dyeing materials is done. Lots of stuff on my to-do list. :-)

[@harryjoesather6539]

@@SavageFlies AWESOME CANT WAIT

[@davidhughes2622]

Hi from Kansas City 🎣🤠. I've found that you can take a piece of the sheet plastic for green houses that is segmented in1/2 in sections they come in long pieces and you can cut them with a sawsall any sizes you need. Then pack your dubbing into the little squares with a chopstick, works well 🎣🤠. I like about 4in by6in pieces to fit in my bag. Thanks for all your support and hope all's good with you and your's.

[@nicholsceramiccoating8284]

Ok, newbie here, so can you use some of your dogs fur? I have a chocolate lab

[@SavageFlies]

Sure man, one of the best things about fly tying is you can do anything you want! Lots of people use some of their cat's fur. How I've heard it done is you just take a pet hair brush (maybe one of the ones with metal tines), give them a good brushing and then pull some of the soft hairs off the brush to mix for dubbing. I imagine you could even use some of the long hairs off your dog's tail too. :-)

[@kevingodziebiewski2593]

Wish I never started tying steelhead streamers….I have a small fly shop in my room

[@SavageFlies]

It's not just steelhead flies Kevin... I'm in the same boat and I tie everything! :-)

[@helmera.johnson7305]

Great pattern, sure to tie and try! 500

[@curtislloyd5895]

Tic tac style organizers work great. They will hold two packs of the commercial dubbing. The organizers are small and compact. Be careful about picking up roadkill. In some states it is illegal. If the animal is endangered you could face hefty fines. Also the roadkill could carry bugs and diseases that could spread to people or pets. I brought home some geese and stuck them in a freezer. Even after a month in the freezer the were still mites. Process the pelts, hides, capes etc to kill any unwanted pests. Making custom dubbing is fun. Sometimes those picky fish will take the slightly different color than every one else is using.

[@MrJaxparadize]

This was a really cool and helpful vid! Thank you! (I have TONS of acrylic yarn! I loom hats, scarfs, gloves socks, blankets etc... so this is really cool to know!)

[@edherrmann182]

I went to the goodwill store and bought a used coffee grinder for two bucks!

[@SavageFlies]

That's a bargain!

[@andrewdurfee2891]

What does the tattoo/symbols on your arm represent/stand for?🤔

[@SavageFlies]

Okay, I've been doing this channel for just over four years now and you're the first one to ever ask that question! I've got four little symbols, all in circles. A butterfly (my wife and I got married in a butterfly garden), a princess crown (my daughter loved Disney princesses at the time. She's a teenager now so those days are long gone!), a dinosaur (my son loved dinosaurs as a kid), and an atomic symbol (I was a physicist for the Navy). I've got another one on my leg that my daughter drew for me when she was six. It's a turtle that says "I love Dad." Probably my favorite one. :-)

[@Francois_Dupont]

your raccoon pelt is very short haired. are you in a very hot climate? here in Canada raccoon fur is 4inch thick+.

[@SavageFlies]

I'm in Maryland so sometimes hot but mostly moderate. That was a pretty typical tail for what we have around here.

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@SavageFlies i was surprised to discover raccoon are one species that is found all over the world in many different variation. before i thought they were a "Canadian" animal (i am in Canada). they differ from one place to another, so it is why there might be difference between the racoon found.

[@lantose]

Do you need to spray the fur after a fresh animal kill for any possible parasites?

[@SavageFlies]

I suppose you could to be extra careful but I usually just put in Ziploc bags and throw in the freezer for a few days.

[@chstiger]

Watch those fingers reacting into that grinder. Unplug it

[@SavageFlies]

Good tip; I probably should be more careful!

[@chucklong7402]

Will an electric food processor work? One of the small ones?

[@pixelsnek4819]

Haven't tried it but when it comes to coffee grinder you'll need a good quality one. I bought a very cheap one, it didn't give me the result I was hoping for... It didn't even separate the fibers properly💀

[@adamredden2007]

Brilliant EDIT: Side note. I would have never dreamed it, but an old trapper told me about how nice a good healthy opossum pelt was. Now i have a reason to thin out a few that are eyeing our laying hens 😅

[@baileyqualey2878]

Can you use a regular blender?

[@jeffjackson5331]

Cool ideas. Can you use tanned pelts or do you have to use pelts that are not tanned? I am new to fly tying is why i am asking.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Jeff! Tanned pelts are usually easier to work with, but if I'm using patches of fur I harvested from roadkill, they're not tanned. As long as you use some kind of salt or Borax on the skin side, they'll dry out well enough to last you a long time. And you just clip the fur off with scissors or an electric razor and you'll be good to go!

[@jeffjackson5331]

@@SavageFlies you are very welcome. Oh ok cool. One of the youtube channels i follow did a coyote pelt giveaway and i was one of the lucky winners lol. Thanks for commenting.

[@andrewreilly1793]

Don't put your fingers in the grinder if you want to keep them.

[@SavageFlies]

Great tip Andrew! I guess I've been pretty lucky so far and still have all my fingers. :-)

[@robertjerome1889]

Dont forget most squrrels have fleas. So not tooo fresh.

[@SavageFlies]

Great point! I suppose putting in a ziploc bag in the freezer for a day might take care of that though.

[@ghart91]

What is the ratio of your dubbing when mixing colors with natural?

[@SavageFlies]

If I’m not really trying to change the color, I’d use as little synthetic as possible. Maybe up to 20% just to make it easier to dub. But if you’re trying to make it a new color, you’ll usually have to use more of the acrylic. Even up to 50% or so.

[@ghart91]

@@SavageFlies Thanks,

[@themazamen]

Thanks for great video. I just discovered your channel a week ago and I'm loving jt. Have you ever tried dying your furs to get different colors? I dye rabbit fur with acid dye and it comes out great. I'm wondering what the difference would be from your approach of blending in colored acrylic yarn.

[@SavageFlies]

Yes, in fact I just bought some acid dye last week! I haven't tried it yet, but dyeing furs before mixing would likely make a better mix. The way I do it in this video is a bit easier, but I definitely want to do it with dyed furs in the near future. Thanks for the note my friend and welcome to Savage Flies!

[@themazamen]

A lesson i learned the hard way, less powdered dye is better. I was wondering why my olive was ending up brown and the feedback that I received was that I used too much powder - I only used 1/8th of a teaspoon for 2 quarts of water.

[@SavageFlies]

Great advice, thank you!

[@comesahorseman]

👍👍

[@SnowHunter44]

collected some nice tail fur from a huge Himalayan coon (I found him a layin on the side of the road), now what do I tie with it??

[@SavageFlies]

Oh man, I don't know! Is the tail banded with black and brown hair? I suppose you could make some cool looking bucktails with it. :-)

[@SnowHunter44]

@@SavageFlies Oh yes, for sure regular american style coon. I will have to see what inspires me from your videos. Your budget friendly approach to tying has won me over to the idea of getting into this hobby, I always thought was way too expensive. Only problem is I waited so long my eyesight isn't what it was!

[@russellogden8071]

If you pick up a road kill and just share the fur off,I'm sure and how do you wash the fur to clean it

[@SavageFlies]

Russell- I never do, but I will only get roadkill if it is pretty fresh. If needed, I would shave the fur I wanted and put it in ziploc bags and put the bags in a freezer for a few days. Same thing with pelts or patches of fur. Dry them with salt for a couple days and then put in bags in the freezer. I've never had a problem with bugs or it smelling bad. Thanks for the question!

[@russellogden8071]

@@SavageFlies thanks

[@evans27292]

where did you purchase the grinder and what model is yours ? enjoy your videos .

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks George! I'm pretty sure I got the most basic Krups one Walmart had. I believe it was about $15. Mine isn't this exact one, but it's pretty much the same thing: www.walmart.com/ip/KRUPS-Fast-Touch-Electric-Coffee-and-Spice-Grinder-With-Stainless-Steel-Blades-F2034251/38470909?athbdg=L1200

[@evans27292]

@@SavageFlies thanks so much

[@marksleeper9385]

great vid Matt

[@Adam-ij5yf]

This is great! Thanks for sharing how to make your own dubbing.

[@gdreilly]

Thanks

[@sambrown2150]

Excellent discussion! What is your favourite/go to wet fly dubbing material? Thanks

[@SavageFlies]

Sam- thanks for the note. I would say my favorite for wet flies, at least what I use the most, is probably rabbit with squirrel being a close second. Or opossum. That's a great look too! I think any varmint that doesn't live in or around water makes good wet fly and nymph dubbing.

[@kogabear1]

I laughed about getting road kill, I haven't thought about why I check out the condition of road kill but now I remember. Making dubbing using a coffee grinder was priceless. I'm a long ways from a fly tying supply place and I have been disappointed from ordering on line. Making my own and in the shade I want is going to be perfect. The video is in the top five of my favorites on fly tying. Thanks.

[@SavageFlies]

Wow, thanks Doug. I appreciate this comment. And yes, I agree... making our own dubbing mixes is one of the coolest things we can do as fly tiers. I love playing around with dyeing and mixing possum. And you never know when you'll come up with something that's is almost magical. :-)

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

If you want a real buggy dubbing, try antron carpet.

[@SavageFlies]

Great idea Sweyn! I have several pieces of scrap carpet in my garage. Of course I have no idea what they're made of, but it could be Antron. :-)

[@sweynforkbeard8857]

@@SavageFlies I like to mix it with natural fur like you do. Antron yarn works as well (but you already know that).

[@stevencurran2869]

WOW! I MEAN WOW! Thanks sooo much for this. I’m new to tying don’t have a lot of material yet but I know where to get some without breaking the bank and make it just what I want it to be. Thank you so much.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Steven! Making your own dubbing can be pretty fun. I'm thinking of making a few batches of opossum this weekend. Not that I need any more, but it's just fun to experiment and play around with different combinations. :-)

[@jamesvatter5729]

Matt, If I didn't know better, I'd have thought your were peeping into my fly tying room! My wife just shakes her head when I see something new for fly tying. Skeins of yarn, craft foam, pelts, onion bags, kool aid...you name it. Wiping the inside with a dryer sheet can help cut the static in the grinder, similar to using it in a hair stacker.

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! Kook Aid? That's a new one. For dyeing fur I suppose? Probably a cleaner process than the acid dye I'm about to give a try. :-)

[@michaelmerlino6753]

It may be slower, but a few companies make what they call a dubbing rake.It’s good because it doesn’t pick up the guard hair only the softer fur. I do it with the rake,with the scissors and with a clipper,depends on my mood more than anything.Very good tutorial,Matt.

[@SavageFlies]

Thanks Michael-- I've actually seen Barry Ord Clark using a dubbing rake but have never tried it myself. I'll have to check one out. Cheers. -Matt

[@icefisher1171]

Such an awesome idea!! I've been worried about having a good mix of dubbing, but this solves that issue. How important is having true as opposed to synthetic for tying? Pelts and the like are pretty pricey and I want a nice selection.

[@SavageFlies]

Kyle- synthetic definitely has it's place. You can mix it by hand to get the perfect color you want, and it can make some excellent dry fly dubbing. Synthetics usually shed water easily, so your dry fly bodies dry off with just one back cast. Some naturals are water repellent too-- furs like muskrat, woodchuck and otter. Usually the water type varmints that have a naturally waxy fur. Animals like rabbits, fox, raccoons and squirrels have fur that is not as water repellent and they make better nymph and wet fly bodies. (Because after they get wet, they generally stay wet.) Also, you can get some great deals on fur scraps or pelts. Check out Glacier Wear. A pound of scrap remnants will make a LOT of dubbing and is quite inexpensive. Good luck!

[@Guselpescador]

I'm new to your channel love it so much 💖 nice information.. thank you for sharing

[@SavageFlies]

Thank you my friend, I'm glad to have you here! Let me know if you ever have any questions or requests. Cheers. -Matt

[@chriskeane9996]

What could be added to make “ice dubbing”? From the craft store?? Great vids!! Keep them coming

[@SavageFlies]

That's a good question Chris, and one I haven't figured out yet. The "angel hair" stuff I mention will certainly add some sparkle to any fur dubbing, but it's not going to look at all like an ice dub. I'm going to have to think more about this and the next time I'm in Michael's or AC Moore, look around for anything that looks like we could make an ice dubbing out of. Thanks for the note. :-)

[@rollinlapoint4554]

I get a lot of dubbing from a hare's mask. (Use fingers for picking) Shaver for larger amounts in the coffee grinder.

[@SavageFlies]

Yep, same here! Hare's masks are generally pretty cheap and you can get them already dyed in a few convenient colors. Probably why it's so popular!

[@pablogarza4793]

Great tips on how to make awesome dubbing. Not sure what the wife would say if I stopped on the side of the r I ad to give a quick hair cut to an Animal, but I'll try it. lol

[@SavageFlies]

Ha! I've never actually given a critter a hair cut on the side of the road. You might get some pretty strange looks! (I'll throw something in the back of the truck and take home go get the fur later. :-) )

[@jimmyanderson2144]

Thank u so much for tips on craft materials I went to Hobby Lobby and got good sales on most of stuff u been speaking about 50 percent off I saved lot of money and love these materials thank u again

[@SavageFlies]

You're welcome Jimmy! Thanks for the note my friend. :-)

[@jonathanmeyer1164]

I literally was playing with this all day. Made a blend with white acrylic and a hare mask. Made some very buggy looking nymphs.

[@SavageFlies]

Outstanding Jonathan! I think coming up with some new and unique dubbing blends is one of the most fun things we as tiers can do. It's much more enjoyable than dyeing materials. That can be a chore (and a mess). Thanks for the note. :-)

[@SnowHunter44]

Just so you know, knitters and others in the know take the yarn from the centre of the skein. This way the ball doesn't spin around so much and it reduces tangles. Dig in to the very centre at one end or the other to find this and make your life a little easier... Mom was a big knitter, that's how I know.

[@SavageFlies]

Great tip; thank you! And this note came just in time… I found four skeins of wool yarn on clearance at JoAnne’s this weekend. 😀

[@ronbrooks3219]

Thanks Matt, I've tried a bit in the past with rabbit, you take it up a notch. Great video, will try some colors soon. Ron

[@SavageFlies]

You bet Ron. I'm going to try my hand at creating some mixes with furs that have been dyed first. Starting with some of that you sent. And by the way, I got one of the Meck books from your list today. At first glance it looks good.

[@samh4232]

Could you cut the yarn shorter for a finer dubbing or would that be more of the diameter of the fibers? Also, do you know of a good site for dubbing recipes like they have for leaders?

[@SavageFlies]

Sam- great questions. You are right that the diameter of the fibers would determine the overall fineness of the dubbing. Cutting the pieces at different lengths would just change how easy it is to get on your thread. And maybe the spikiness of it. Think if you cut each piece at 1/4 inch, it might be harder to get to stick to the thread, but would probably be spikier too. As far as recipes for dubbing mixes, I have never seen anything online. I have seen it mentioned in books, but that was for specific patterns. Look up dubbing mixes for Tup's Indispensable and you'll see what I'm talking about. Mike Valla talks about it in his Catskill book. Also here: www.sparsegreymatter.com/viewtopic.php?t=10363