Oak Orchard Flies - Advantage of Tube Flies?

« Advantage of Tube Flies? »

Welcome Guest. Please Login or Register.
Dec 8, 2009, 5:59pm

The memories of a man in his old age are the deeds of a man in his prime.

Oak Orchard Flies :: FLY TYING :: FLY TYING QUESTIONS :: Advantage of Tube Flies?

Author

Topic: Advantage of Tube Flies? (Read 149 times)

limestoner
New Member

member is offline

Joined: Nov 2008
Gender: Male

Posts: 2
Karma: 0

Advantage of Tube Flies?
« Thread Started on Oct 12, 2009, 10:31pm »

I do not post much but read the board everyday and enjoy the photos and stories. I live in central PA and though I do not fish for steelhead as much as most on this board I manage to get out several times a year.

My brother and I got into swinging for steelhead about 10 years(or more) ago after hanging out with Bucky for a night drinking beers at the cottage shop that used to be in Albion. The next season we started swinging and have never gone back. I would now rather catch one fish on the swing rather than 10 throwing eggs.

This year is different, though. Due to a 14 week premature baby I will not be making the trip north until next year.

So during my long boring winter of sleepless nights I am thinking hard about converting to tube flies for steelhead, or at least giving it a try.

I have a couple questions to pose.

1). What do you guys find are the advantages of using tubes versus the same patterns tied on standard hooks?

2). What is a good setup to start with as far as tubes, tube holders, and hooks go?

I am guessing I could call the shop and get order some type of homemade kit to get me started should I decide to, right?

Thanks

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

ralph
Full Member

member is offline

Joined: Mar 2007
Gender: Male

Posts: 215
Karma: 3

Re: Advantage of Tube Flies?
« Reply #1 on Oct 13, 2009, 12:21pm »

there are many advantages to tube flies. The 2 that stand out though are - size vs weight of the fly (the tubes are available in various materials from plastic through brass in various lengths, so if you want a small heavy fly you use a 1/2" brass, if you want it large & light you use an aluminum 2.5" tube). and The big advantage - the length of the hook shank vs the length of the fly. you can tie a fly thats 4 or 5" long on long, yet relatively light tube and have a #6 short shanked hook right at the back of the fly, which then separates from the tube/fly when you hook a fish. a long shanked hook creates leverage that allows the fish to work it lose during the fight, the short hook stays stuck a lot better. Also, the separation of the hook from the tube reduces the abuse the fly takes during the battle.

HMH makes a jig that will clamp into a standard vice. you clamp the jig into the vice and then the tube clamps into the jig. they also make a replacement head for their vices specifically for tubes. they sell both at the shop.

there are a lot of fine points involved in addition to these give the shop a call.
good luck

« Last Edit: Oct 13, 2009, 12:26pm by ralph »

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

phisherman
God

member is offline

Joined: Mar 2007
Gender: Female

Posts: 529
Location: Downtown Williamsville
Karma: 9

Re: Advantage of Tube Flies?
« Reply #2 on Oct 13, 2009, 7:04pm »

Ralph's point about the hook shank length is what I was thinking. Oh yeah, there cool too!!!

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

http://www.dimebrightoutfitters.com/

gisteve
Full Member

member is offline

Joined: Jul 2007
Gender: Male

Posts: 183
Location: G.I., N.Y.
Karma: 4

Re: Advantage of Tube Flies?
« Reply #3 on Oct 14, 2009, 9:31am »

Ralph covered it pretty well,
AND damaged hook does not mean toss out the fly.
http://oakorchardflies.proboards.com/ind....ead=2369&page=1
Our new friend has covered just about every style you could think of (I would have never thought of sucker spawn on a tube!

pretty cool. perfect example of a fly that could get hook damage)

I like the fact that you can tie the same pattern with a bunch more weight, or a plastic tube with a lot less weight than a big standard fly on a big hook.

Link to Post - Back to Top IP:

Logged

"One can and will find a way to swing in any water...and you can then turn your nose up and be f**king proud of your skunking!" A.A., Drake BB