Tube Muddler

Tube Muddler

Tying instructions:

• Prepare a tube, length approx. 1.5" or 4 centimeters
• If you use a cotton swab, cut off the cotton and melt carefully to form a collar in each end of the tube (7 on the drawing below)
• Tie in the flat gold tinsel approx. one fifth of the tube length from the rear end of the tube
• Wind the tinsel backwards to cover half of this space and forwards again leaving a small piece of the tube uncovered (4 on the drawing below)
• Prepare two yellow golden phesant body feathers by removing the webby part leaving only the regular, even barbs
• Moisten the feather and pull the barbs parallel to the stem of the feather
• Tie in the feather with the shiny side up by laying two loose turns of thread over the stem just behind the first barbs
• Hold the feather flat in regard to the hook and pull slowly on the stem while guiding the barbs to a small, even tuft (2 on the drawing below)
• Unwind one wrap, pull the thread tight in an upwards motion and tie the feather down with two more tight wraps
• Repeat the process for the opposite side
• Divide the rest of the body into five parts
• Dub the first fifth with a thin layer of black dubbing
• Tie in two more feathers as described above
• Dub the next fifth
• Tie in two more feathers
• Dub the next fifth
• Tie in a sparse wing of Arctic fox on each side of the tube (1 on the drawing below)
• Stack a bunch of deer hair and tie in to form a collar (6 on the drawing below)
• Tie in more deer hair to form a large and dense head
• Whipfinish in front of the head and varnish
• Trim deer hair to form a short head
• Mount the hook on the tube by drawing a piece of silicone tubing over the bare piece of tube in the rear (3 on the drawing below)
• Use a treble or single hook according to taste and moral

Tube Muddler construction 1: Arctic fox wing 2: Pheasant body tail and veilings 3: Silicone tube 4: Tinsel tag 5: Dubbing sections 6: Deer hair collar 7: Tube collar