The GFP Bobbin Hook

A simple paper clip twisted around your bobbin and you've got yourself a virtually free bobbin hook similar to Mitch's Bobbin Whirler and allows you to make dubbing loops without the need for a second tool.

Here's a shot of the hook in action, on a test hook, but you can see how right at the bobbin tip the hook has the dubbing loop and it's all set and ready to wrap around the hook.

The few minutes it takes you to make this is worth it since you'll never be searching for your dubbing twister or having your bobbin get in the way while spinning it up!

UPDATE: Here's a short video of it in action.

Loop to Loop Tippets

For a while I've been thinking of doing this....and for a while I've forgotten to. So, since I'm at the computer now, and thinking of it, without any tippet in site then you get to benefit from my wonderful idea....and tell me if you think it's a good idea or not.

So, you roll out of the fly shop carrying your new spool of 6x tippet....

These spools come with yards and yards of continuous tippet. You get to the creek and pull of a few feet and attach it to your leader.  But, undoubtedly, that piece gets cut down by changing flies, losing wind knot battles, or by the massive hunger your monoMASTER has. Eventually you have to pull off a new length of tippet and reattach it to your leader.

Here's what I usually do: (on stream)

1. Unspool tippet to about the length of my wingspan
2. Double surgeons loop the end
3. Cut tag end off of loop
4. Cut the tippet from the spool
5. Loop to loop attach to leader

What I'm thinking of doing is making all my tippet pieces ahead of time (while watching TV late at night). I could cut off the tippet, double surgeon BOTH ends, then attach it to the next double surgeon looped piece of tippet....creating a chain of tippets connected together...then respool them onto the spool. Then, on that cold wintery day when you need a new piece you could cut out a few steps in the process, and hopefully keep your fingers a slight bit warmer.


Here's what you would then do: (on stream, not counting the TV time prep)

1. Unspool one pre-looped tippet
2. Cut 1 loop off (need to attach the fly to this end)
3. Loop to loop attach to leader

It seems to me that it might be a nice way to speed things up especially when fingers are numb and you are worried less about how many fish you catch and more about how many fingers you lose.

....one day, I'm going to turn my attention away from Oprah and get to doing this!

Power Dubbing Twister

Here's some photos from a friends powered dubbing twister. The black board is just the base. The light wood has a groove in it where you lay down a piece of wire, cover with dubbing, then cover with the rest of the wire. Once he hits the button it spins up the material into a dubbing loop in about 2 seconds. This is a great way to premake dubbing brushes quickly.

Bobbin Tip Replacement

Let's say, hypothetically of course, that your 2 year old son grabs your bobbin and somehow, using the power of saliva, removes the ceramic tip. Don't toss it out just because it now cuts thread, but replace the tip with a bead.

Click here to see the full step by step!

DJ Roughfisher Mixes the Dub

USCarpPro has an article by Roughfisher that talks about making your own dubbing. Anyone who loves paying too much for dubbing should visit oprah.com instead. All others who don't mind mixing their own blends should start at page 88.


LINK

The GFP Bobbin Hook Video

If you haven't seen how I made the GFP Bobbin Hook, take a look at this link.

Here's a short video of it in action. Nothing fancy, but hopefully shows how having a dubbing loop hook on the bobbin can make it easier to twirl than having 2 tools in the way.