Cleaning Marabou

[Fly-Swatter]

Does anyone do this? I saw that Charlie Craven and other commercial tiers do this.

 

[jifigz]

Wash it, dry it, and brush it? No way. It'll get washed in the first crick it swims in.

 

[Bamboozle]

Wash it, dry it, and brush it? No way. It'll get washed in the first crick it swims in.

Yea, but will it get dried out with a blow dryer and brushed out...

 

[poopdeck]

Nope and I never will no matter who else does.

 

[goose54cdd]

A giant waste of time.

 

[nfrechet]

if the dye on the maribou comes off on your fingers, its probably a good time to give it a rinse

same with bucktails

 

[Fly-Swatter]

Thanks, all. I watch too much YouTube. On the other hand, Norm has a point. I need to keep a sponge on my bench instead of licking my finger, especially when they take on the marabou color. 🤮

 

[nfrechet]

also good for a bunch of different materials​

 

[PennKev]

Does anyone do this? I saw that Charlie Craven and other commercial tiers do this.

I do not wash the feathers, but I sort through them and comb out feathers just prior to use. Takes only a few seconds. I won't lie, the amount of dye that comes off some feathers makes it tempting to start washing and drying them before use.

 

[Facemelted]

Haha... good ol' Charlie "Holier Than Thou" Craven.

I wouldn't bother doing any of that stuff. Pure silliness. Just buy that fish hunter or fulling mill marabou, tie it in and go fish with it. There, it's prepped.

 

[Fly-Swatter]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the voices of reason.

 

[Bamboozle]

I would never bother washing marabou, but I have washed dyed duck quills I use on classic wets on the advice of the late Don Bastian. It helps to align the fibers and make for a prettier fly.

I'll add that for the most part these are NOT flies I fish.

In regards to washing other dyed materials, if you are so inclined to try I would suggest adding some white vinegar or salt to the "bath" water. Both act as a fixative to help the dye bind to the material.