Dubbing?

[hooker-of-men]

For you folks that work with a hare's mask, how do you go about selecting hair from an given mask? I've always been intimidated to take one of those terrifying little faces home because I'm not sure if different sections are useful for different applications, if it's all useful to just blend together, etc.

 

[afishinado]

For you folks that work with a hare's mask, how do you go about selecting hair from an given mask? I've always been intimidated to take one of those terrifying little faces home because I'm not sure if different sections are useful for different applications, if it's all useful to just blend together, etc.

A hares mask is great since it contains a full spectrum of natural colors (black. gray, light brown, dark brown, tan, cream, white), depending on which section of the mask you use. It also contains sections with guard hairs as well as soft fur for different textures. The most useful skin for nymphs, IMO. Don't be afraid of the bunny!! >

 

[Bamboozle]

For Hare's Ear Nymphs or soft hackles, I like the hair right on the front of the "face" between the eyes because of the guard hairs blended with fur from the cheeks. Before tying, I will shave or cut off (with coarse scissors) enough fur/guard hairs for the amount of flies I plan to tie and blend it in advance.

Even though they are cheap, I like to buy hare's masks in person so I can select the mask(s) that have the qualities I desire or I buy two or three online and hope for the best.

 

[salmo]

For you folks that work with a hare's mask, how do you go about selecting hair from an given mask? I've always been intimidated to take one of those terrifying little faces home because I'm not sure if different sections are useful for different applications, if it's all useful to just blend together, etc.

It's not too difficult. The longer hairs are great for buggy flies. The finer stuff for dry flies. During Covid I purchased a hair and beard trimmer set (never used for their intended purposes) which is quite effective on rabbit, hare and squirl. YouTube has a bunch of videos on blending dubbing and how to select the right fur.

 

[JeffK]

I like hare's masks. I generally shave them all at once, wash the fur, dry it and then store it. Much easier for me than cutting what I need to tie some flies. One mask lasts me for years. I do the mask between eyes, sides and ears separately. The mask is the most useful. You really don't get much from the ears so I don't know why the popular fly is called hare's ear rather than hare's mask.

I do the same with muskrat. Muskrat is a long time favorite of mine and I use it with and without guard hairs.

 

[Bamboozle]

I can't speak to anything much except that it dubs wonderfully, but raccoon is a nice natural material that is often overlooked. I got turned on to it because of some road kill I harvested & processed and some scraps given to me by furriers.

A lot of the underfur is a wonderful dark brown color with golden highlights and when bleached, it comes out a wonderful cream color. It is also easy to dub with & without guard hair.