Marabou...

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KJH807
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2009/09/20 19:21:48 (permalink)

Marabou...

*please feel free to add more to this thread... as this is just my way*

there is a wide varriation in marabou
below--
black- stem is too thick and the quills are too short to palmar
purple- good for palamaring, close to the stem is webby and full but there are fine tips,
white/pink- Best, tip dyed, long, non-webby, fine tips, great movement and look



here is my favorite tip dyed... come in a range of colors



cleaning/ preping feathers is important
you don't want to use the webby quills from the bottom
(these bottom feathers are good for tails)
BEFORE





AFTER





attach the quills that were pulled from the bottom of the stem
notice the webby non-fine tips



tie in you first feather by the tip
notice on the AFTER shot above, the quills are pulled back for a nice tie in point



palmar forward making sure to pull back the quills
don't worry if they become twisted, as you can fluff them out later
you just want to make sure all quills are behind your work point





add you next color and repeat
make sure you are advancing with every wrap
this will allow max movement and you won't end up too dense
also add flashobou as needed



for a head you can add mallard flank, teal, Guinea, whatever you want or works with your colors
i chose to stay with thread



OTHERS















post edited by KJH807 - 2009/09/20 19:57:37



#1

28 Replies Related Threads

    Flyguy638
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/20 19:26:21 (permalink)
    Nice job on this post dude. I look forward to seeing more from you , and others. Its a great idea to show what not to use as some people will certainly struggle when using the wrong or poor qualilty materials, thanks for sharing this
    #2
    steely34
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/20 19:52:28 (permalink)
    KJ - Thanks alot for this. For the past few days, I've been tying these, trying different color combos and such. Took them down to the river this morning to test the movement on them - amazing! Great fly that I really enjoy tying. Your pics and description really helped me out! Thanks again for taking the time to put this together. Really appreciate it.

    "They say you forget your troubles on a trout stream, but that's not quite it..... you begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand scheme of things, and suddenly they're just not such a big deal anymore."

    John Gierach

    #3
    tippecanoe
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/21 11:13:29 (permalink)
    are there certain layer/color combinations that work better/worse?  From what I gather you want to layer it on, kinda sparsely?
    #4
    swinger
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/21 22:20:02 (permalink)
    The combo of orange wht and flo yellow works for me. A well as black and blue.

    Quality over quantity

    I am reality

    I>U

    JC Rules!!!!!!!
    #5
    Plum Bob
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/22 07:55:20 (permalink)
    Favorite color combinations - wound marabous:

    white/fl yellow, fl pink/fl yellow, fl pink (cherese)/purple, black/fl orange or chartreuse chennile egg.

    Prefer this fly tied on plastic tubing with a contrasting schlappen collar, usually a fluorescent color, purple or black.

    I like this fly tied thin, only 2 or 3 turns of each color marabou with pearl or silver fire fly flashabou.

    I've found it to be a fish catcher, and if tied on plastic tubing, it should be counter balanced with a small cone, bead chain or dumbell eyes.

    Swinger, do you know where I might find fl yellow schlappen, I've been all over the internet looking for it and can get every color but fl yellow.
    post edited by Plum Bob - 2009/09/22 07:58:07
    #6
    swinger
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/23 20:41:34 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: Plum Bob


    Swinger, do you know where I might find fl yellow schlappen, I've been all over the internet looking for it and can get every color but fl yellow.

     
    I got mine at a local shop. I thought it was flo yellow but I looked on the package and its just yellow. Not flo yellow. Give them a call (440 247 7110)

    Quality over quantity

    I am reality

    I>U

    JC Rules!!!!!!!
    #7
    Plum Bob
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/23 22:33:02 (permalink)
    Thanks swinger, will check it out.  Found some nice, wide, strung hen hackle in fl yellow on line.  Been substituting it for schlappen.  For what I tie, it's adequate, not a bad substitute.
    #8
    Rich Farino
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/27 02:38:15 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: KJH807


    This could be the sexiest fly I've ever seen... I need to tie this. Care to share the recipe? Is that the tip-dyed stuff or are you just mixing marabou? Little bit of heron at the front?
















    #9
    KJH807
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/27 04:06:46 (permalink)
    thanks rich
    its all tip-dyed
    orange with red tip and purple with black tip, little bit of flash
    teal up front

    you got some heron?



    #10
    Rich Farino
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/27 11:17:35 (permalink)
    Nope.. just blue-eared pheasant. Being a shop guy, I have to play by the rules too, ya know ;)

    Awesome looking fly though.

    Know what I've been using recently that I like? Dyed lady amherst tails in a dubbing loop. I'll have to post photos.
    #11
    KJH807
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/27 22:16:11 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Rich Farino

    ... Dyed lady amherst tails...


    on the shopping list


    i'd like to see what you do with them



    #12
    pxatim
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/30 22:05:01 (permalink)
    Wanted to give this a try... used a #8 streamer hook and 2 shades of marabou... Need some spey hooks and more variety of marabou and flashabou.

    Think I started to far back on the hook and used to much material or my marabou is to full. Maybe didn't palmer forward fast enough...

    Is it common to weight spey flies or are you primarily using shot to get down?

    #13
    Cold
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/30 22:07:44 (permalink)
    Very full, but it'll work.

    I weight mine.

    I dont use spey hooks (yet)...too expensive for my meager abilities.
    #14
    pxatim
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/09/30 22:28:35 (permalink)
    Little better... tried to tie sparser... head is a little neater.

    #15
    Plum Bob
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/01 15:27:37 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: swinger

    ORIGINAL: Plum Bob


    Swinger, do you know where I might find fl yellow schlappen, I've been all over the internet looking for it and can get every color but fl yellow.


    I got mine at a local shop. I thought it was flo yellow but I looked on the package and its just yellow. Not flo yellow. Give them a call (440 247 7110)

     
    Swinger, pm box is full.  Contacted the shop, nice, helpful people, don't have fl yellow.  Been subbing with strung neck, not bad, ok for what I tie.  Thank you for your help.
     
    Bob
    #16
    steely34
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/01 19:34:38 (permalink)
    In the morning, my wife and I are takin a 6 hr. plane ride to Memphis to see my oldest son who teaches there within the inner city (tough conditions) so since we're all packed and ready to go, I thought I'd take some of the tips here and on all the other threads and continue to work on my swingers. Put this together. Feel free to pick apart. I know - the stinkin heads too big. Broke the thread and had to retie but that's no excuse. Gotta say I'm really hooked on tyin these. You all have a great time on the streams if you get there. Swing a few for me. I'll be feastin on the famous Memphis bbq ribs!

    post edited by steely34 - 2009/10/01 19:36:01

    "They say you forget your troubles on a trout stream, but that's not quite it..... you begin to see where your troubles fit into the grand scheme of things, and suddenly they're just not such a big deal anymore."

    John Gierach

    #17
    Rich Farino
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/01 22:54:53 (permalink)
    pxatim,
     
    When you prep your feather, remember to pull off the feathers close to the bottom of the feather where the stem is too stiff to wrap.  You're going to clip the feather at that point.  Usually, the longer finer barbules generate from the flexible (and wrappable) part of the stem.  Just make sure you're folding the barbules backwards towards the bend when you wrap.
    #18
    KJH807
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/01 22:58:29 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: Rich Farino

    pxatim,

    When you prep your feather, remember to pull off the feathers close to the bottom of the feather where the stem is too stiff to wrap.  You're going to clip the feather at that point.  Usually, the longer finer barbules generate from the flexible (and wrappable) part of the stem.  Just make sure you're folding the barbules backwards towards the bend when you wrap.



    building off this...

    if you are tying tip first... the lowest barbules will be at the front of your fly
    i'd rather use more feather the make a full fly than have the webby barbules


    i think...
    the best flies have the thinest tips and the least webbing
    when the fly swims this will allow for more of the layers to been seen throughout the fly rather in just the tail
    (see the depth and visable layers on the spey minnow and the fly rich quoted)


    make sense?

    post edited by KJH807 - 2009/10/01 23:02:17



    #19
    pxatim
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/02 06:33:15 (permalink)
    got it... makes sense... I was tying in tip first but didn't clip the bottom feathers off and wound to close to them. I think my issue was the hook shank being to long and having to do so many layers. I'm still fairly new to tying and I always seem to use to much material. That is what I've been working. Tying sparser.
    #20
    KJH807
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/02 06:49:52 (permalink)
    cool
    no need to fill the whole shank



    #21
    tippecanoe
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/13 09:51:51 (permalink)
    ok, a little update....


    I tied a few of these up for my first steelhead adventure for the year.  Or, at least, a variation of them.   I used white, blueish white, and a little bit of red.  i also tied in barbell eyes.  i used some silver tinsel for the body.  Well with the 2 I had, both were gone within 5 minutes of experimenting.  One was totally destroyed, the other one is still in a fishes mouth.  The first one I swung over the fishes lie, and it came out and absolutely nailed it.

    I just wanted to thank you guys for turning me onto this.  It is a hell of a lot more exciting then dead drifting glo-bugs and other nymphs.  I know that they work for steel, and now I am going to tie some up and go over to see what I can land in a couple of my favorite neighboring WV/MD streams.  I think I will try some other color variations as well. Probably do a black/purple, a olive/black, and maybe expiriment with some others. 

    A question....

    When yinz guys tie your flies, it seems to lay back more then mine.  Is there something I am missing on the wrapping of the Marabou, or do I just need to bring my thread back a little further?  Mine still swim and "breath" pretty good, but I was just wondering what you think?
    #22
    D-nymph
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/13 10:06:57 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: tippecanoe

    ok, a little update....


    I tied a few of these up for my first steelhead adventure for the year.  Or, at least, a variation of them.   I used white, blueish white, and a little bit of red.  i also tied in barbell eyes.  i used some silver tinsel for the body.  Well with the 2 I had, both were gone within 5 minutes of experimenting.  One was totally destroyed, the other one is still in a fishes mouth.  The first one I swung over the fishes lie, and it came out and absolutely nailed it.

    I just wanted to thank you guys for turning me onto this.  It is a hell of a lot more exciting then dead drifting glo-bugs and other nymphs.  I know that they work for steel, and now I am going to tie some up and go over to see what I can land in a couple of my favorite neighboring WV/MD streams.  I think I will try some other color variations as well. Probably do a black/purple, a olive/black, and maybe expiriment with some others. 

     
    Impossible.  Those fish only eat wooly buggers and sucker spawn! 



    When yinz guys tie your flies, it seems to lay back more then mine.  Is there something I am missing on the wrapping of the Marabou, or do I just need to bring my thread back a little further?  Mine still swim and "breath" pretty good, but I was just wondering what you think?


    Hard to say without seeing pics.  When I tie them, I lick my fingers, and stroke the unruly marabou fibers back so they lay down a little bit.
     
    #23
    tippecanoe
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/13 10:24:25 (permalink)
    yeah i need to get a camera, right now i have a pic on my phone, but im a little slow in the tech department.  i might see what i can do....
    #24
    tippecanoe
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/13 10:52:33 (permalink)
    I hope this works....
    sorry if the picture quality is crappy, it might be my phone
    sorry for the mess on my desk as well, it is a disaster, I am currently working on a new desk, specifically for tying

    <a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq199/tippecanoe_photo/?action=view&current=1011092142a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq199/tippecanoe_photo/1011092142a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>




    I tried doing a search on how to post pictures, and couldnt find it.
    I cant figure it out, to HELL with it!!!!!



    post edited by tippecanoe - 2009/10/13 10:59:19
    #25
    swinger
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/13 19:33:30 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: tippecanoe

    I hope this works....
    sorry if the picture quality is crappy, it might be my phone
    sorry for the mess on my desk as well, it is a disaster, I am currently working on a new desk, specifically for tying

    <a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq199/tippecanoe_photo/?action=view&current=1011092142a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i447.photobucket.com/albums/qq199/tippecanoe_photo/1011092142a.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>




    I tried doing a search on how to post pictures, and couldnt find it.
    I cant figure it out, to HELL with it!!!!!





     
     
    I put the pic up for you. Hope you dont mind. On posting pics. I use photobucket as well and paste. what I have to do is change [IMG] to [img] and it works.
     
    It looks like it will fish just fine. you dont want to force the fibers back with the thread. The taller they stand the better. Let the current push them back. That is what gives the breathing motion. If any of my marabou flies seam to be laying back is because I probably wet my fingers alittle and stroked the fly back to make a better pic. In my box they are all puffed out like a 70s afro. Hope this helps.
    post edited by swinger - 2009/10/13 19:41:51

    Quality over quantity

    I am reality

    I>U

    JC Rules!!!!!!!
    #26
    tippecanoe
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/14 08:29:15 (permalink)
    Thanks swinger!!!!!  This is only the 3rd on i have tied, I am sure it will get better with time.
    #27
    Cattman
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/15 17:38:23 (permalink)
    great looking fly KJH.
    Cold, u said you weight yours. I'm assuming lead wire. do u just cover with thread then?


    #28
    Cold
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    RE: Marabou... 2009/10/15 19:41:12 (permalink)

    ORIGINAL: Cattman
    Cold, u said you weight yours. I'm assuming lead wire. do u just cover with thread then?


    Big hourglass eyes, lead wrap, smooth with thread, cover in floss or dubbing. When they land on the water, they go ker-plunk!

    ...they get down to steelhead eye-level in fast runs without extra lead shot on the line, though...
    #29
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