Gang,
I have been using tube flies for several years now and actually they are
very easy to tie. I feel people might think they are difficult to tie
because of the need to learn the top and bottom of the tube or larger
proportions. Proportions are generally not a problem especially in the head
area... so you wind up a little short- simply shave off the rest with a
razor blade. Durability is also a big plus... The flies just last longer
period! Here are some other advantages:
I usually tote around a box of tubes whether fishing in the lake or streams.
For lake fishing, a Carey Special tied on a weighted (aluminum) tube is a
hot ticket or a streamer or bugger.
For Steelies... how about an articulated marabou pattern of differrent
colors or an articulated wooley bugger or leech (brass tube in the lead
followed by two plastic tubes- these flies dance). Cominations are endless.
Standard patterns can be applied to tubes as well. One of my favorites is a
Hunter's Tippet Shrimp. In the salt, tubes are all I fish late Spring
through Fall. I feel they out perform a standard pattern 5 to 1. Better
baitfish profile...i.e., thin tubes for candlefish, fatter tubes for
herring. You can even tie a Clouser tube! Hook setting is positive,
especially on longer tubes, with Silvers who are notorious for short
striking. One of the biggest advantages I feel is hooks... Instead of
tying a fly on one hook, all I do is change the pattern- same hook. This
will definitely save money in the long run- especially in the TMC hook
department.. Finally, the tube breaks away from the hook saving the pattern
from being chewed to pieces by our toothy critters here in Washington..
Tubes themselves come in sereval diameters and lengths. My favorites come
from ball point pens.. the walls of the tubes are thicker.
I tie on the Renzetti tube fly vise ($69.00) which has proven itself better
than the HMH tube fly tool.
Hope this helps.
John Abbott
Keith Ayers wrote:
>
> I recently was "lurking" on one of the many fishing forums I have
> bookmarked and ran into a discussion about tube flies. They seem
like they
> would be a hassle to tie but appear to have some advantages over a
fly
> tied on a conventional hook. One of those advantages being their
ability
> to hold a fish after it is hooked.
> I have experimented with large marabou patterns tied on cotter
pins with
> Gamakatsu bait hooks but haven't hooked any steelhead yet so no
conclusion
> has come from this. I will say that those cotter pins sink like
anvils
> though.
> Does anyone on the list use tube flies and what are your thoughts?
