Published Mar 22. 2010 - 14 years ago
Updated or edited Aug 8. 2015

Tube Flies

Forums: 
Fly tying - Tie Better

Good day gentlemen. Hope everyone is well? I have just, this weekend taken an introductory course on tube flies, while I can see some of the benefits of this style I came away thinking it to be a bit of a pain in the butt, is it or was it just my lack of knowledge or maybe the equipment I was using (HMH manderals). I might do some in the bigger sizes for pike & musky, but is the style worth it for the smaller flies.

I look forward to your outlook, knowledge and discussions on this subject

Glenn

Submitted by:
Glenn Parkin

Submitted by Mike Thomas on Thu, 2010-04-08 15:16
Hi Glenn I use tube flies...

Hi Glenn I use tube flies sometimes but honestly I think that a good streamer is a better fly most times. The tube flies just do not have that enticing movement that a Rabbit or even a hair wing fly has. The tubes of course sink much faster so if you need to get down then they are hard to beat.
All the best.
Mike.

Martin Joergensen's picture

Submitted by Martin Joergensen on Tue, 2010-04-13 05:42
Glenn, Mike,...

Glenn, Mike,

The thing about tubes is not to consider it as a "better" way to tie the flies you usually tie, but to use tubes where it really makes sense.

I personally tie and use tubes for large, light flies where hook weight might be a problem, and for flies where the hook will typically last a lot longer than the materials or the other way round - pike fishing shreds a lot of flies, deep salmon fishing dulls a lot of hooks.

Last but not least, the new compact metal tubes makes it possible to tie a small and heavy fly, where the weight is concentrated exactly in the place you want it.

You might have noticed the large tube fly section here on GFF, where I go much more into depth with this issue:
http://globalflyfisher.com/tiebetter/tube-flies/

PS: regarding movement in the fly: that depends on the materials used, not on a tube or hook choice! I have plenty very enticing flies tied on tubes using zonker strips, marabou or Arctic fox or Finn raccoon hair wings. That works equally well on a tube.

Martin

.

Log in or register to pre-fill name on comments, add videos, user pictures and more.
Read more about why you should register.