Hends Dubbing Wax

While not used for tying a “bubble,” Hends Dubbing Wax, also known as tacky dubbing wax, is a crucial fly-tying material for creating a spiky, natural-looking body on pupa and nymph patterns. The special “bubbling” effect on flies like the La Fontaine Sparkle Pupa is created by a synthetic material, like Antron yarn or dubbing, that traps air bubbles when wet.

Here is a guide on using tacky dubbing wax for fly-tying.

1. How to prepare and apply the wax

The tackier “bubbling” style of wax is different from standard, less-sticky thread wax. To prepare for use, break off a small, BB-sized piece and warm it between your thumb and forefinger until it is soft and sticky.

2. The “touch dubbing” technique

To create a buggy, spiky body, use a technique known as “touch dubbing”.

1. Wax the thread: Apply a very light film of the tacky wax to your tying thread, just enough to provide traction. Do not apply so much that it creates lumps.
2. Prepare the dubbing: Use a natural or synthetic dubbing with guard hairs or spiky fibers. For the La Fontaine Sparkle Pupa, Antron dubbing is used.
3. Apply the dubbing: Touch a tiny pinch of dubbing directly to the waxed thread.
4. Twist gently: Gently twist your thread while the dubbing fibers are sticking out. The wax will hold the dubbing in place as you twist and wrap. Avoid over-twisting, as this will trap the fibers and lose the spiky, buggy effect.
5. Create the bubble effect with Antron

The shimmering, air-bubble effect is not created with wax, but with a material like Antron yarn or a translucent sparkle dubbing.

Using a trailing shuck:

1. Attach the yarn: Tie in a small bunch of Antron yarn for the trailing shuck (the pupa’s old skin) at the hook bend.
2. Create the body: Dub the abdomen forward using the touch dubbing technique described above.
3. Create the air bubble: Take a separate, longer piece of Antron yarn and tie it in on the side of the hook. Fold it over and secure it on the other side. This creates a loop of material.
4. Inflate the bubble: Tie in and dub the thorax. Then, pull the Antron loop over the top of the thorax, securing it with tight thread turns. As you pull it back over the hook, it will trap air and create the bubble effect.

Using a dubbed underbody:

1. Dub the body: Wrap a spiky dubbing for the abdomen.
2. Add sparkle material: Create a dubbing noodle with a blend of your dubbing and a sparkle material like Antron or UV dubbing.
3. Create a spiky thorax: Wrap the spiky noodle to build the thorax. The sparkly fibres will protrude and help simulate the bubble effect.
4. Finish the fly: Complete the fly by adding legs and any other required materials before doing a whip finish.

You can get in Contact with Hansie From Catch Me If You Can Fly Fishing if you are interested in Stocking the CMF products in your shop here is a link to our contact page https://www.cmffly.co.za/contact-cmf-fly/

Catch Me If You Can Fly Fishing is the distributor of Hends products in South Africa. Here is a link to the Hends Website https://www.hendsproducts.cz/en/