Hare and Squirrel Dubbing
Friday 14th March 2025.webp)
Why Hare and Squirrel Dubbing Should Be in Every Fly Tyer’s Kit
There’s something timeless about natural dubbing. While synthetics have their place in modern fly tying, nothing quite matches the buggy, lifelike appearance you get from a good blend of natural fibres. That’s exactly why our Kindale Hare and Squirrel Dubbing remains one of our most popular materials here at Kindale Fly Fishing.
In this blog, we’ll dive into what makes this dubbing special, why it deserves a spot on your tying bench, and how you can get the best out of it.
What is Hare and Squirrel Dubbing?
Our dubbing is a carefully crafted blend of hare’s ear and squirrel fur, designed to give your flies maximum movement and a naturally spiky profile. The hare provides the bulk and subtle colour variation, while the squirrel adds extra bounce and liveliness to your dubbing noodle.
The result? A dubbing with just the right amount of rough texture to trap air and create a realistic, buggy look — perfect for imitating the legs, movement and body taper of aquatic insects.
Why Fly Tyers Love It
There’s a reason this dubbing is a go-to for so many tiers. Here’s why:
- Natural appearance in the water — the mix of fibres helps your flies look alive and enticing
- Perfect for nymphs and wets — especially ideal for patterns like the Hare’s Ear Nymph, Czech nymphs, and soft hackle wets
- Easy to dub — whether you prefer to dub directly on the thread or use a dubbing loop, the texture is just right
- Versatile colour tones — our blends aren’t flat — they’re rich, multi-tonal, and suit a wide range of flies straight from the packet
The Story Behind Kindale Hare and Squirrel Dubbing
Our Kindale Hare and Squirrel Dubbing has become a massive hit with fly tyers across the UK and beyond. What started as just an idea has grown into one of our most sought-after materials — and we’re proud to say we believe we were the first to ever concoct this unique blend.
Everything is prepared in-house, right here at Kindale. From washing, dyeing, to blending the fibres, nothing is outsourced. It’s this hands-on approach that gives us full control over the quality, consistency, and colour depth in every pack.
We began with just the natural blend, and even that was hard to keep in stock — the demand was incredible. So we set out on a new challenge: to develop a range of new colours that would give tyers more options, without compromising the quality of the original.
A True Blended Art — Not Just Dyed Together
These new colour blends have been a real labour of love. And what sets them apart is our blending process. We don’t just dye everything together in one go — that wouldn’t do the material justice.
Instead, we dye each fibre separately, using a wide range of colour tones. Only then do we blend them together in careful ratios to create the final colour we set out to achieve. This gives us a deep, contrasting blend of fibres, rich in tone and texture, that really pops on a fly.
The result is a dubbing that not only looks natural but also carries a surprising vibrancy — natural blends with a fluorescent edge that really stand out in the water.
Why Choose Hare and Squirrel Over Standard Hare Dubbing?
You might be wondering — why not just use standard hare’s ear dubbing?
Well, our hare and squirrel blend is simply a more refined, more buggy, and more lively option. The addition of squirrel fur gives the dubbing extra character and movement, helping your flies stand out with a more realistic profile.
We often get asked what type of squirrel we use — and the answer is both pine squirrel and grey squirrel:
- Pine squirrel is soft, with plenty of guard hairs for extra texture
- Grey squirrel has longer, stiffer fibres that add a wonderful spiky, buggy appearance
Together, they strike the perfect balance of softness and scruffiness, making this dubbing ideal for everything from delicate wets to bold, bulky nymphs.
Tips for Tying With Kindale Hare and Squirrel Dubbing
- Use small amounts — a little goes a long way
- Tight dubbing noodle or loose scruff — you can shape it how you like depending on the pattern
- Dubbing loops — ideal for collars or thoraxes on nymphs and wets
- Mix with Superfine Ice Dubbing — for a subtle touch of sparkle and extra movement
Recommended Patterns
Some of the most popular flies to tie with our dubbing include:
- Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear Nymph
- Czech and Euro Nymphs
- March Brown Spiders
- Soft Hackle Wets
- Scruffy Beadhead Nymphs
If you’re tying flies with a natural, buggy look — this is your dubbing.
Shop the Range
We’ve just launched our new colour range, and we couldn’t be happier with how they’ve turned out. Whether you’re looking for something subtle and earthy or bright and fluorescent, we’ve got a blend that’ll fit the bill.
Browse our full Hare and Squirrel Dubbing range here
All crafted in-house. All made with care.
Inspire the Rise.
At Kindale Fly Fishing, we don’t just sell dubbing — we give you the materials to tie flies that inspire trout to rise. Try it yourself and see the difference our dubbing makes on the water.
And if you do — we’d love to see what you tie. Tag us on social media @kindaleflyfishing or drop us a message.
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