Rene, Anything linear will furl a loop when it is twisted, from a garden hose to your leader. Since the rope-dub style noodle is anchored to the hook (unlike waxed-on dubbing), if you were to remove tension without letting the noodle unwind, it will furl onto itself naturally, forming a loop and reverse twisting on itself. All you have to do is control where the loop occurs and you have a 'furl' for a tail, leg, antennae, or whatever. Choosing the dubbing for the finished look is important, and roping the right diameter noodle will take a fly or two practice. To choose the spot for the furl to occur, just use your dubbing needle and bend the dubbing over it. When the dubbing starts to furl, pull the needle out and the furl will continue down to the hook. If you don't have the rope noodle spun tight enough, the furl won't make it all the way. Just pull lightly on the loop and rope-spin the dubbing some more, and it will finish the furl, and then you can continue wrapping it right up the hook if you want, so that part of the tail is on the hook.
Again, as with all rope-dub techniques, the technique itself is only the basic approach. What you use for dubbing and thread will give widely varying outcomes. All the variables that you can work into the noodle can be approached specifically for furling. A dubbing brush or pick can really change the appearance of the rope noodle, either for wrapping up the hook, or for furling. Don't forget to rope-dub with peacock, and it will furl, also. Furling a hackled rope-noodle will create a fuzy caterpillar. If you want to add shape to your extended tail, rope dub on the heavier tying wire and help your furl along by twisting it, as the wire will resist the furl. This will make a stiffer tail, but it will take and keep a bend for a life-like look. Just keep in mind that the secret to rope-dubbing is that the rope or wire base does NOT twist with the dubbing. Only this way can you get the dubbing twisted tight enough. If the thread twists with the dubbing, it will break before a good rope forms. Tension on the bobbin for the rope base is required. This should give you a little to work on, eh? For the damsel, rope a very fine noodle and let it furl on itself. Pick something like a silk dubbing that you can brush out and the tail will have a chennile-like look. It's actually very fast and easy to accomplish once you get it, and doing multi-colored ropes give life-like results. DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: Rene Zillmann To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2005 3:22 PM Subject: Re: [VFB] Damsel flies / Dragon flies Buggs, pls ask Don to provide more details about the furled rope dubbed tail. Thanks in advance Ree
