Dry Fly Dubbing!
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New tyers get confused about dubbing as it seems there are just endless choices on the market. And, in fact, the choices actually ARE endless! But that doesn't mean it has to be confusing.
What is dubbing? It's simply the material applied to the tying thread that when wrapped over the hook, makes the 'body' of a fly. To be 'dubbed' simply means to apply in a twisting motion to the thread. Any material that can be applied to the thread and then wrapped as a fly body can be considered to be 'dubbing.'
So then, what is dry fly dubbing? It's the material used for the dubbing on a fly that you tie with the intention that it'll float on the water's surface, rather than sink like a nymph or streamer. Keeping this in mind, the obvious, and usually best material is waterproof.
Synthetics, like "Super Fine," "Fly-Rite" & "Prism" are all waterproof to begin with, so they're obvious choices for the dry fly material. For those who prefer all natural materials, and many fly tyers do, fleece (wool) dubbing is popular. Our Nature's Spirit Fine Natural Dubbing is actually a very fine wool dubbing that has been infused with preen oil for good flotation.
If you are just starting out, I'd recommend that you try them all to see which you like to work with the best. No, I'm not telling you to spen $50 on dubbing. Just try a couple colors of each kind and learn their differences and you'll develop your own preferences. You can even make your own dubbing, but never, never EVER use your spouse's coffee grinder! We'll talk more about this soon.
H&H Fly Dubbing