tube fly questions

[pork]

After talk to Rich S last month, I decided to give tube flies a go. I tied up my first batch last night and ran into a little problem. I bought plastic, aluminum and brass tubes. I have two sizes of junction tube (large and small??...not sure what the actual diameter is).

Anyhow, on both the plastic and aluminum tubes, the small junction tubing fits fine and the hooks are nice and snug. On the brass tubes, however, I cannot get the small junction tubing to fit (I am using 3/4" and 1" tubes). The large junction tube fits over the brass tube fine, but is way too big for an appropriately sized hook. I actually had to tie some tippet material around the junction tube to make the hook stay inside of it (while fishing today).

Any ideas? All the tubes and junction tubes come from HMH. I am baffled.

After casting all three (with a 5wt), I can say that I probably won't use the brass as often as the other two. They were much heavier than they looked.

For you guys who fish tube flies, which tube material do you use most often? I can see why plastic tube is very useful for salmon fishing, but I can't see myself using it for trout too often (while using a floating line). I supposed a sink tip and plastic tube would be a good combo. I think I am going tie more on aluminum, as that seems to be the most versatile for my immediate needs.

I am new to this, so any and all input is appreciated!

[WhipFish]

I really like tying/fishing tubes. I have a pic of a crystal flash wooly bugger in the gallery that I used on Friday and the trout killed it. I tie them on plastic and use the big coneheads for weight. I haven't gotten around to the metal tubes yet and I'm not sure if I will. I don't like the concept. With the weight at the head, they jig up and down when stripped like a clouser does.

[Painter]

I use Q-tips for my plastic tubes. Sometimes I wrap weight on to them and sometimes I use cone heads. I caught a nice 'bow on the Farmington last week with a tube streamer and a circle hook. While I haven't kept precise records, I think that I am losing fewer fish on tubes than on regular streamers.

[Flyone73]

Pork, what I do I put on a piece of the larger junction tube, then insert a small piece of the smaller junction tube into that.

[pork]

Pork, what I do I put on a piece of the larger junction tube, then insert a small piece of the smaller junction tube into that.

That's so simple, yet so brilliant. I feel like a moron for not thinking of that. Thanks!


Thanks also for everyone's replies so far. Feel free to keep this thread going!

[Rich Strolis]

Pork,
You can also keyhole the junction tubing by running a pot of boiling water, inserting the junction tubing into it to make it pliable which will allow the smaller stuff to slip over those tubes your using.

[Kype]

I have tied tubes for some time. Being a frugal sort and using them for Atlantic salmon where weighted flies are not allowed I tie my tubes on plastic tubing. I have gotten tubes from Aerosol nebulizers which I would have discarded at work in the hospital. We use large tube flies for Atlantic salmon in the late season. I cut the tubing at 4" – 5" lengths. I then mix up some epoxy and cut a length of silver or gold tinsel tubing and remove the cord from it. I place the epoxy on the tube and slide the braded tinsel tubing over the epoxy covered tube. I pull the tinsel tubing from both ends so as to make a tight fit. After it is hardened and adds a bit of stiffness to the tube I trim the excess braded tinsel tubing back to the length of the plastic tube. I then take a piece of IV tubing of the proper diameter to fit over the tinsel covered tube. Again I place some epoxy on the tube which helps a lube and slip the IV tubing on over the tinsel covered tube about ¼ inch or so to ensure it stays put and prevents the tinsel from becoming free with use.
I then trim the IV tubing to the length needed to secure the hook. We use light wire #6 Atlantic salmon double hooks most of the time. If the hook is heavy the fly can ride poorly.
Now that the tube is dressed it is time to tie the fly. Because I am a do it yourself kind of guy, I take a large paper clip and open it up leaving the inner loop to stick into the vise. I slide the tube over it and using long deer hair to extend beyond the hook I tie up the fly. I generally use a long hackle collar to hide the thread and make as neat a head as I can manage on such a creation. When it is complete the fly can be 6 inches long.
Peter DesMules, an avid Atlantic salmon angler friend from VT figured out how to fish the darn things. Peter ties these tubes to a 3' – 4' leader attached to a #7 13ft VI steelhead sink tip line or heavier. As the fly begins to swing the sink tip will keep the fly just under the surface. As the fly moves into a calm shore line pocket the sink tip will sink but the fly will continue to ride high in the water column where it fishes best. As you slowly draw the line the fly will pull down a bit and then rise up after the draw. You do not hook up on the bottom and the salmon that move along the edge of these soft places rise up and take the fly. I have used them with success but Peter has caught some excellent bright salmon with them especially in periods of high water when the fish tend to move to the soft shore line pockets as has Paul Mariner after I exchanged samples with him a few years back and told him Peter's method of fishing them. Peter has taken them for black salmon fishing in Quebec' and the big old hook bills chew on them but because of the secure construction they last and last. I hope this is of help to you.

Bobby