Fly Tying Inventory
Fabbler
A creative stillwater pattern from Fly Fish Food that combines the flashy buoyancy of a FAB (Foam-Assed Blob) with a spun deer hair muddler head. The deer hair head adds a shimmy action when stripped, making it irresistible to cruising trout in lakes and reservoirs.
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Materials
Fulling Mill 35005 Heavyweight Champ, barbless, size 12
Semperfli Nano Silk Ultra Fine 100D 6/0, yellow
Fulling Mill Translucent Cactus Chenille 10mm, fluorescent pink
Fulling Mill Translucent Cactus Chenille 10mm, fluorescent yellow
Fulling Mill Soft Foam Cylinder, white, 5mm
Nature's Spirit X-Caddis Deer Hair, natural whitetail
How to Tie the Fabbler
- 1
Step 1
Place the hook in the vise and start the yellow thread at the midpoint of the shank.
- 2
Step 2
Tie in the white foam cylinder at the rear of the hook, extending past the bend about 1 inch. Secure tightly.
- 3
Step 3
Tie in the fluorescent pink Cactus Chenille at the rear and wrap forward to the midpoint. Tie off.
- 4
Step 4
Tie in the fluorescent yellow Cactus Chenille and wrap forward to about 1/3 behind the eye. Tie off.
- 5
Step 5
Apply superglue to the remaining bare shank. Take a clump of deer hair and spin it around the shank to form a muddler-style head.
Use a hair stacker to even the tips and a comb to remove the underfur before spinning.
- 6
Step 6
Add 2-3 more clumps of spun deer hair, packing tightly with a hair packer tool.
- 7
Step 7
Whip finish behind the deer hair head. Trim the deer hair to a round muddler shape with scissors.
- 8
Step 8
Fish this fly on a floating or intermediate line with short, sharp strips.
The deer hair head creates a wobbling action on the strip that drives stillwater trout crazy.
Watch Tying Tutorial
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HOxA3TAmPk
Credit: Cheech / Fly Fish Food