Published Mar 3. 2021 - 3 years ago
Updated or edited Mar 3. 2021

Red Tag Tube

Articles w/pattern

Red Tag Odyssey

A bunch of pattern descriptions and materials lists for flies inspired by the Red Tag

See them here

Originator: 
Martin Joergensen
Pattern type: 
Tube fly
Skill level/difficulty: 
Medium
Instruction: 
  1. Push the silicone tube over the rear of the rigid tube.
  2. Mount the tube on a tube needle in the vise or in a tube vise.
  3. Start the thread just in front of the junction tube.
  4. Cut a number of 1 centimeter pieces of red yarn – 8-10 pieces should do.
  5. Tie them in so that they protrude to the rear, distributing them around the tube.
  6. Brush the yarn open and fluffy with stiff brush or a Velcro stick.
  7. Trim the yarn to form a fairly large brush-like tail circumferencing the tube.
  8. Tie in the rib. Make it long. There’s a bit of way to the front when the fly is ready to be ribbed.
  9. Tie in 4-5 peacock herl and take the thread forwards to just shy of the first third of the tube.
  10. Wrap the herl in touching turns to cover the rear third of the tube.
  11. Tie down and trim.
  12. Tie in the red hackle stem first, curved side forward and wrap 3-4 times.
  13. Tie down and trim.
  14. Tie in 4-5 peacock herl and take the thread forwards to just shy of the second third.
  15. Wrap the herl in touching turns to cover the middle third of the tube.
  16. Tie down and trim.
  17. Tie in the brown hen hackle stem first, curved side forward and wrap 3-4 times.
  18. Tie down and trim.
  19. Make another herl section, covering the last third.
  20. Wrap the rib forwards, about three turns in each section, taking care not to squash any hackle barbs.
  21. Tie down and trim.
  22. Tie in the brown cock hackle stem first, curved side forward and wrap 3-4 times.
  23. Tie down and trim.
  24. Form a short head in front of the last hackle, whip finish and cut thread.
  25. Cut the tube 1-1.5 millimeters in front of the head.
  26. Melt the tube to form a collar right in front of the head. Make sure that the hole in the tube is still open.
  27. Varnish the head several times to a shiny and smooth finish.
Species: 
atlantic salmon (sea run), sea trout (sea run)
Materials: 
Tube
Neutral plastic tube, 3mm diameter, length about 4 centimeters
Junction tube
Red silicone tube
Thread
8/0, black
Tail
Red wool yarn
Rib
Narrow, flat copper tinsel
Body
Peacock herl
Rear hackle
Red hen hackle
Center hackle
Brown hen hackle
Front hackle
Brown cock hackle
Related content: 

Red Tag Revisited

I always loved the Red Tag. I have tied and fished this fly a thousand times, but tend to basically do it the same way every time. Not so anymore!
See more here

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