Comparaduns

[chstrcntyfish]

How do you tie them? I have been tying them using online instructions.
1. Tie in two microfibetts for tails
2. Tie in deer hair wing
3. Dub.

I don't have any microfibetts for the tail so I tried using two deer hairs..they are too brittle and always break off. I've seen pictures of these flies without tails. Do they really need tails?

 

[Padraic]

Yeah, it will help create the "spinner" profile and help float the back end of the fly. But you don't have to use microfibbets.

I've used z-lon to create an emerger profile. If you still want to make a spinner, you can use hackle fibers if you have a cape and can pull them off the large spade feathers, you can use hacle stems if you don't. I've use tippet material in a pinch (7x). I've used rubber legs which I thought would be really effective, but isn't any more or less so that I can tell.

 

[chstrcntyfish]

I haven't started to tie dry flies except for comparaduns, and I don't have many materials since im new at this. I might just use the tippet like you said...would I use a clump of tippet pieces or just two and split them?

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear chstrcty,

They do need a tail. You can use a couple of pieces of deer body hair for each side tied split, or like Padraic said you can tie a sparse tail with appropriate body colored acrylic yarn as a trailing shuck to sort of make and emerger/cripple combination.

If you don't have microfibbets and can't get them locally go to your local hardware store and buy a lifetime supply by buying a couple of small acrylic bristled paint brushes. You could even use natural bristled paint brushes if they are cheaper and come in a wider variety of colors.

Microfibbets are just another one of the numerous fly tying materials that were discovered by accident and repackaged at about 5000% mark-up.

Regards,
Tim Murphy

 

[chstrcntyfish]

Wow, now that you mentioned it, I probably have some paintbrushes that haven't been used, or I might just buy some. It's always too obvious...

 

[fritz]

I like z-lon for tails/trailing shucks too.

Hey Tim, thanks for the paintbrush tip--never would have thought of that one.