Chenille or dubbing?

I don't have a nearby outlet for fly/jig tying material and have found a substitute for "true" dubbing material. You can get a huge variety of colors of pipe cleaners from any craft store or even walmart. If you seperate the 2 pieces of wire, take out the material and fluff it up, it works nearly as well as dubbing.

I have tied sm & lrg mouth bass jigs and flies for many years but just recently started tying my own crappie jigs.

Questions:

1. I know most simple crappie jigs are made using chenille, but why, is it simply for the color and bulk of the jig or for action?

2. Does anyone else use dubbing on crappie jigs or does everyone use chenille?

AF

Some other sources for dubbing are rugs, pets, kid toys, and you might check the lint trap on the dryer.

I think chenille is so popular, on crappie jigs, are for color, bulk, and action also but ease of use as well.

I really like dubbing but don’t forget peacock hurl – looks really buggy and very easy to use.

I use some with dubbing, but mostly special dubbing like Holo Ice Dun. Chenille will out last dub most every time and is much faster to tie.

I don't live even driving distance from a fly tying shop so all my materials come from on line purchase. Or from a wholesale place I buy from a good bit.

If you buy from a place like Bob Marriott's you don't even pay tax and if you save your purchase until you need enough and buy over $100 it is also free shipping. I buy stuff from them a good bit and they have fast and good service.

I make jigs using most every fly tying material I can and it still comes down to chenille on a regular jig.

Pipe cleaners from Walmart or craft stores I never use and don't plan on changing that. Heck I live 40 miles from a Walmart anyway so it's not like driving down the block a bit.

You can also buy from Barlow's Tackle and look at what you want on line and call them with an order and with them you can also expect good service and pretty fast delivery.

I don't see any reason to need a fly tying material shop that you can drive to anyway as most of them are higher than the two I mentioned.

On more point, I went to Amazon.com and just typed in fly tying material and found this and more. However this link will take you to dubbing for sale and if you click on special offers you will find free shipping on orders over $20. So it's not all that expensive if you look a little on line.
http://www.amazon.com/Wapsi-Cycle-Du...9272294&sr=8-6

Also look at the bottom of that page and several shops and at least one offers free shipping.

Skip

i just realy started playing with dubbing and it takes longer to make jigs with it but some of the looks i get is very nice and some neat things you can do with it

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gabulldog

i just realy started playing with dubbing and it takes longer to make jigs with it but some of the looks i get is very nice and some neat things you can do with it

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I have found the Holo Ice Dub to be awesome in getting bit! It does get ragged pretty fast, but looks great and the crappie think so too. Will not last with chenille, but may get more bites.

Skip

I have an article from an old Fins and Feathers a magazine from Vermont in the late 70's early 80's and the article is about tying fly patterns on lightweight jigs for trout fishing.

Their's lots of articles out on making dubbing rope machines and with these you could make the dubbing ropes that would hold up just as well as chenille IMO but theirs just something about a chenille jig that really makes it a crappie jig.

Fatman

You can also tie on a piece of copper wire (used for nymphs) that holds down the dubbing and makes it more durable. After you have attached the tail and the dubbing loop (if that's the method you use), attach the small copper wire and reverse-wrap it around your dubbing body. The reverse-wrap just traps the fibers more so it will last longer. But when it comes down to it, chenille beats dubbing hands-down because it's much easier to use, is more durable, and you can make a thicker body.

Stephen

Thanks for the info on where to buy things Skip. I use the internet everyday at work and at home and have just never liked "shopping" online. I do if I have to, but would much rather drive there or come up with something that will get me by. I must have some hillbilly engineering family roots!;)

I know dubbing does get beat up pretty fast once it gets wet. With the pipe cleaners I mentioned, I can come up with any color combination I want and create my own dubbing material. They definetly are not professional grade, but I have tied a few with a mix of flo green/yellow body and flo green/pink and they look pretty nice. Maybe I will get some pics to post to show better what I mean.

Thanks everyone for your input. So far it looks like most everyones choice would be chenille which is kinda what I thought.