Fly Tier vs. Fly Tyer or just Fly Dresser
March 21, 2026
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All our dubbing is sourced from Drumblade Alpacas. ( https://www.drumbladealpacas.co.za/index.html )
At the farm, the alpacas are shorn once a year and the selected fiber is sent to a mill where it is washed, cleaned, and carded. Once it returns, the fiber is sorted by natural color, weighed, packed, and shipped to The Fly Dresser.
At The Fly Dresser, the fiber is inspected and cleaned again, then carded multiple times for consistency. It is then divided into smaller volumes by color, and blending begins.
This careful process results in a premium, easy-to-dub, natural alpaca dubbing available in a variety of beautiful blends.
Alpaca fiber has quickly become a favourite among fly tiers who value natural materials and refined performance. After carding and cleaning, the fibers create a soft yet versatile dubbing with several key benefits:
✔ Extremely Fine & Soft Fibers
Alpaca has a naturally fine micron count, giving you smooth dubbing that forms neat bodies without bulky buildup. This makes it ideal for smaller dries and emergers where subtlety matters.
✔ Natural Water Repellency
Unlike many animal fibers, alpaca contains very little lanolin and hollow-like fiber structure, which gives it natural buoyancy and helps flies float longer on the surface.
✔ Great Movement in the Water
When used on nymphs or wets, the fine fibers come alive in the current, adding lifelike motion that helps trigger strikes.
✔ Naturally Coloured & Custom Blended
Our alpaca dubbing uses only natural alpaca colours — no dyes or chemicals — that are blended to create unique shades and tones that match local insects and fly patterns perfectly.
✔ Eco-Friendly & Sustainable
Harvesting alpaca is gentle, cruelty-free, and repeatable, making it one of the most sustainable natural fibers available for fly tying.
