Tube Flies

[rpnsteelheadlps]

Anybody use them and are they easy to tie?

[Steelie28]

I just got set up with the tube fly tool for my vise. Decent little system. I'm tying tube flies for silvers in the ocean on the mooching rod directly behind the boat. Man those silvers just hammer them. My only probelm so far has been this: I'm putting flashbou tubing over the tube itself and making a few wraps on the back of the tube to hold the rear end of the flashbou in place. Unfortunately, my whip finisher is of the smaller type, so I've had resort to tying the knots by hand. Other than that, it's a fairly easy deal. I would recommend getting the tube tying attachment for your vice. Mine came with two different sized rods and an ample amount of tubing, probably enough for a dozen flies. Hope this helps. Tube flies open up a whole new realm in tying. Tungsten coated tubes, colored tubes, etc, just another vice (no pun intented).

Steelie28

[Stew]

I've used them a little bit. They are pretty easy to tie though!

[Sauk]

The newest issue of Fly Fisherman has an article on tying them. Also check out this link for a little more info.

http://www.akflyfishers.com/fom_tube_flies.html

[TillamookChinook]

I have heard people say they get better hookups with tube flies because the actual hook has a shorter shank and is harder for the fish to throw. It is also reported to be less damaging on fish to be released.

TC

[Steelheader69]

Yup, been tying them for awhile. They are great to use. I think the biggest benefit is you can use them on drift gear. I've tied up quite a few and they've been a success with my gear only friends. The one big thing you have to remember is if you don't use some sort of plastic tube on end for a hook holder, or jam the hook up into tube, you'll have to tie fly in the round (which I normally do anyways on a tube). If you don't, will ride wing down. Plus, the really nice thing is those who like jigs and/or popsicles can tie them up on tubes and use for drift gear as well. Here's one I tied up on a tube.
http://host.threadshosting.com/~steelhea/photopost/data/526/243Tube16.JPG

Plus, for a lightweight jig, can tie these on copper/brass tubes and use under a float. I'm using a Renzetti tube vise, but I can write it off. LOL

[bacon_to_fry]

don't overlook waddington shanks, either. you don't need a tube vice and, in my opinion, they're every bit as effective. they're nice and heavy, available in a few sizes and long enough for bigger marabou flies. i rig them by running line through the upturned eye, through the marabou and then down through the back eye.

from there, you take a 1/2" piece of HMH plastic tubing and thread it on your tippet. jam the tubing over the waddington's back eye to sort of secure the fly on the the tippet, leaving enough room to tie on a size 4 gamakatsu straight shank hook. then, slide the plastic tube down over the hook's eye.

they're nice because you can run a very small hook (as opposed to a hook gap from one of those 3/0 partridge hooks that tends to brain smaller fish who take the fly deep) and the plastic tube stiffens the connection preventing shallow hook sets. also, if you weight the shank's underside with dumbell eyes, the hook can be attached in a manner that lets the point ride up, decreasing the chances it'll find a rock.

hope that helps. good luck.

[Fish Slayer]

Tube flies are pretty easy to tie. If you dont have the tube fly tying attachment you might be able to clamp a wire sleeve in your vise. I have done that before because I dont have a tube fly attachment. I have tried the attachment thing too and its a lot easier to make them. They caught lots of silvers and some very nice 30 lbs+ chinook out in the ocean. They work good for salmon. :grin:

[rpnsteelheadlps]

Thanks for all of your advice. I'm going up to the Fly Shop in Welches to take a look at what they have. Anybody ever go to the River City Fly Shop ?

[speyfly]

River City has by far the best materials selection that I have found anywhere and the owner (Don) is a great guy.

[draggin bottom]

Don at RC has got tubes and stuff. I think Mark in Welches is by far the authority on tube flies. I have a setup myself. Pretty easy to tie and I like the short shank type hook. The fish can't get leverage on you to force the hook out. Tube flies are great for salt water because the fly stays out of those toothy critters mouths. A fly will last 5 times as long. Thats my .02.

DB

[Fish_N_Russ]

Wouldn't really call them a 'fly', but they do have a usefullness in many applications :smile:

[rpnsteelheadlps]

I purchased the $19.95 kit. I must say they are very easy to tie. Lets see if I catch more fish with them. I'll be down on the Nehalem & Salmonberry this weekend.

[BanannaMan]

Steelhead on tube flies? Na no one ever catches steelhead on tube files, expesually black and blue ones those never work. What next your going to tell me bunny fur wrapped on a size 2 hook works also? Pish posh :laugh:

[Steelheader69]

LOL Banana man. Yeah, and especially a blue moon (black with blue) on a tube won't work at all. :grin:

Yes, they are flies. Just called tube flies. Been around for years, mostly in the UK and caught favor here. I have a few antique tube flies (and waddingtons) I picked up from the UK that are about 50-60 years old or so. I actually have alot of fun tying on tubes. Especially my marabou flies. Blue moon sure looks purdy on one. :grin:

[Stew]

Jerry! Lose the popups dude! :grin:

[Steelheader69]

LOL, that's an old page. When I get my full run site up, won't be popups. But free through my IP (well anyone can get them through geocities) but I get unlimited picture uploading. Just a temp page. One of these days I'll have it switched. :grin:

[rob allen]

I have used them the last two days and I have to say I do not like them, at keast not marabou tied on plastic tubes.. they are far too bouyant and don't sink well even with a sink tip line.
so for as much as you can tell from two days fishing i give them a thumbs down..

[Steelheader69]

Rob, you have to shorten the leader a bit and sometimes (depending on how bushy you have them tied) have them on a brass or aluminum tube (not copper, will drop like a rock and harder then hell to toss unless on a 9/10wt spey). Normally a lightly tied (1-2 marabou feathers) on a plastic tube will go down nicely on a 2-3' leader/tippet.

[rpnsteelheadlps]

I didn't hook up and did notice that they don't sink that well. I am however not even close to giving up on them. A little experimenting around will get them to do what I want. It looked great in the water with a lot of action and they are extremly easy to tie. Plus the fact I've seen to many fish caught on them to give up this soon. Jordan did however hook a 15+lb native hen on the Nehalem and she was a beautiful thick fish. I'll post the picture when we get the film back.

[rpnsteelheadlps]

http://www.ifish.net/uploads/29460148.jpg http://www.ifish.net/uploads/52470148.jpg

[HT Buzzo]

I just talked to a fisherman on the N. Santiam who showed me some tube flies. He said that he had hooked two fish in the mainstem around I-5 that morning on a surgeon general pattern.? I think if I could save on hooks, it would definitely be worth deviating just a little from tradition.
He also mentioned the use of narrow diameter brake line material for tubes, which would effect the sink rate depending on how thick they were.

[Stew]

Nice fish! Was that caught on a tube fly?

[rpnsteelheadlps]

Sorry Stew it wasn't. My son is strickly a Spinner catcher(fisherman). I take advantage showing him off when ever I can. When we team up on a river I like to have him go through a hole first with his spinners than I go through with my flies. The only problem is that he catches all of the fish. To be honest with you thats the way I plan it. I've always thought of Fly fisherman and Spinner fisherman as almost equals. I don't know why but to me if your not throwing bait " You really have to know how to fish " and read water. Hope nobody takes offense to me posting NON fly caught fish on this page............... I should post the picture of the 25lb Nate he caught below Marmot Dam. That was an awesome fish.......

[fishguy]

I just picked up my attachment, does any one know where in the corvallis area I could get some small copper or brass tubing and make my own tubes?
Fishguy