How to tie a Traditional Style Dabbler (ish)

This style of fly was devised by Donald McClarn of Co Down, when he was tying a Gosling, a Mayfly imitation.
The Dabbler is now tied in a wide range of colours both - body and hackles - and the only constant is the wing of bronze mallard. I more often than not use straggle fritz for my bodies on this style of fly.
There are so many variations now and some use the bronze mallard more as a hackle or have it tied in as two distinct bunches above and below the body. While these alternative tyings catch fish they are not, strictly speaking, Dabblers. So, don't let the fly tying police catch you!
I have tied this in my own style using the materials I had available I quite like it.

[@stuartjones7903]

What I like about your tying videos is the realism ,they are real as you have the same problems as most of us have ,sure the Mcphail and Ord Clarks are pretty amazing as so they should be tying 25000 flys a year for the past 15 years but yours are just as good and just as effective ,maybe a small comment on what part of the leader they should sit and how to use them ,slow fast sink float etc ,excellent video

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Very kind of you to say Stuart, I do try and remember to talk about the flies and when abs where to fish them. I will redouble my efforts.

[@waynedavies5569]

Hi Lindsay, I really enjoyed watching you tying this “fully cloaked” Dabbler. This looks a great pattern and has inspired me to give this a go and add it to my Fly Box. Regards, Wayne

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Great in the late season.

[@ralphmarrujo1491]

Lindsay, Thanks for your daily ties they are helping keep me sane in difficult times. last season I started tying your and David Downie's still water patterns and had some success fishing blobs and Cormorants to trout in Arizona lakes. Keep it up and thanks for your contributions in a difficult time.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

You are so welcome! It is helping me pass the time too, hope your catching plenty of fish with the patterns.

[@dannymcg8300]

Very nice tying Lindsay. Well put together and nice touch with the 'whip finish' ! Many thanks for sharing.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Very welcome Danny.

[@jamesvatter5729]

Thanks for sharing, Lindsay. Great tie. Yes, one must be ever watchful of those tying police! Good one!

[@lindsayiflyfish]

lol....Thanks James.

[@bluesimon13ify]

That has got to be the best fly I have seen, it looks fantastic,😀

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks pal👍

[@FlickingFeathers]

If you wind the palmer hackle towards you, you need to bring the securing rib towards you too otherwise you're not really tying the hackle down with each wrap. If you look at how the hackle crossed the pearl rib you'll see that they were both wound towards you but the spirals were opposite because they were moving in opposing directions. Chase the last turn of hackle round the hook with the securing rib and you'll always get it in the right direction.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks for the tip Martyn.

[@keithelliot3772]

Lindsay ties some lovely flies and is lovely to watch, but for me size, simplicity and presentation is the key. Most flies I see flying around are black, brown or green with a little variation, so over 50 years I have used half a dozen simple patterns all season and still catch fish. Tight lines.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

It does not have to be fancy Keith, I think we just like making it that way.... a little ;-)

[@keithelliot3772]

That's right Lindsay it's like being a wee bairn in a sweetie shop your eyes are bigger than yer belly and you want everything but like all fly fishers I had more flies than I am ever going to use so gave most of them away and kept the ones I might use . My dad fished three fly's all season (green wells glory,march brown,black spider) that never varied, and of course back then the local rivers and burns were laden with trout, changed days. Tight lines

[@lindsayiflyfish]

@@keithelliot3772 lol, couldn't agree more pal, changed days indeed.

[@keithelliot3772]

Just watched your review of the Wychwood rod and had to chuckle when you mentioned the £200 price tag I bought a Hardy 30 years ago it cost £210 and it broke!!! Came back to fishing last year and wasn' t going to pay thro the nose again, got on the Net and picked up two Shakespeares for £108 quid they are lovely well built rods with one or two minor flaws but do exactly the same as the Hardy at a fraction of the price and are probably built in the same factory! Tight lines.

[@kevinjtoner]

Awesome fly, Lindsay!!! Thank you.......👍👍

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Most welcome Kevin.

[@diogg]

Lovely fly, Lindsay - thanks for posting.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thank David, I hope you and yours are fairing well up the road.

[@simonlakin5067]

Great pattern Lindsay. 👍

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Hi Simon, yes pretty pleased with these.

[@kenlindsay696]

Nice job with the whip finisher Lindsay.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thx Pal.

[@wetyourfly8669]

Will tie this tonight

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Good man, should suit some of the hill lochs you have up there pal.

[@duderoony]

Wow! That’s far too complicated for my abilities at the moment but I’ll add it to the to-do list for when I’m feeling confident! lol. Thanks for another one dude. Keep safe.

[@lindsayiflyfish]

The trick is to do it in steps, that's why the video is so long. Give it a go, you know you want to.

[@duderoony]

lol! Of course I do! lol

[@guybaumgartner4244]

beautifull flye

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Many thanks, kind of you to say!

[@MrJimmuck]

Inspired by Davy Mc`s one yesterday … nice handy pattern atb Jim

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Only Davie's was done a lot quicker ;-)

[@jameshughes9234]

Wanting dark bronze mallard makes sense now lol

[@lindsayiflyfish]

I managed three of these the rest of the mallard I have is to light. Got some coming though.

[@robgreen6697]

I always invert the fly/vice to clear out the eye so I don’t get varnish on the hackle fibers at least with Down eye hooks. Why is it the most appealing flies to look at are all wet flies and of them Irish flies seem to have it all?

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Not sure but they are fun to tie.

[@fliesbychris]

I'll be giving that a go but I can guarantee many colourful swear words when I try to tie in the wings, I can do it but it's just too fidgety for my old fingers lol. Lovely fly Lindsay, it'll work well on the lochs. Anyway back to my blue flash damsels. Stay safe mate. ATB Chris

[@lindsayiflyfish]

lol, I am sure you will do grand.

[@mikelundrigan2285]

Try tying this pattern on a much larger hook first to perfect the steps. Once you are confident,reduce the hook size and ty till confident then go smaller again etc.etc. Eventually you will get better and better! If you make one you don’t like, use a snap blade box cutter to remove the materials back to a bare hook and try again! Practice makes perfect! I have been tying for 50+ years and still don’t always get a perfect fly! But the trout usually don’t care too much! Fly fishing is about many things, the fly, how you cast, line control, where you cast, the hook set etc.etc. No one becomes skilled without putting in the practice!!

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Hi Mike totally agree you can never get enough practice in.

[@lentrim5444]

Lovely tie. Tied a few up myself but never had any success with them. Where on your cast do you fish them?

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Top dropper or point works for me, but I know boys that catch with them in the middle.

[@lentrim5444]

Lindsay Simpson Probably my tying!

[@lindsayiflyfish]

@@lentrim5444 To be honest its more likely a confidence thing. Everyone has their bogey flies. It gets into your head. You just need one good day when they are on it and you will be away.

[@Madmicksoutdooractivities]

Can you tie the bustard wet flies patterns?

[@lindsayiflyfish]

If you can send me a photograph I will give it a go.

[@Madmicksoutdooractivities]

Was in other months trout n salmon magazine. I will find the magazine n get the photo 👍

[@lindsayiflyfish]

@@Madmicksoutdooractivities If I can see it pal I will try my hand.

[@Madmicksoutdooractivities]

I've sent you a photo via Facebook messenger pal

[@renatajil]

(y)

[@lindsayiflyfish]

Thanks