Tube flies or not

[SpeyrodMike]

Are they easy to tie on those tubes?

[SpeyrodMike]

Would it be beneficial to fish with tube flies over regular flies or not. I've been looking into the whole idea but was not sure if it is really worth my time or not.

[Kyle Smith]

Do you miss a lot of fish? I think the most popular purpose for tubes is SRC's in the salt, because they have a tendency to bite just the rear-end of a fly. If you're good, you can probably get enough hookups without tubes to outweigh the misses. They really just look like they take 30 minutes to tie 1, and I don't know many people who have enough time on their hands for that. I'll stick to the streamers and such that take me 10 minutes, and catch fish with that 66% extra time.

[ibn]

For me, tubes take the same ammount of time to tie.

One of the big benifits is that you can use a short shank hook with a large gap and still fish long streamers. A long shank hook is much more likely to pop off as it provides the fish with leverage.

When I fish at neah bay you tend to bump rocks and kelp and your hook gets dull or bent. It's nice to be able to just grab a new hook and throw it on w/out trashing the entire fly. Escpecially since bigger saltwater flies use a ton more material and take a while to tie. It's nice to get maximum use out of them.

There are a few threads in the archives about tube fly advantages, search through them if you want some additional input.

-I

[espja]

You'll never know until you try right? It won't take that much money to get into and I'm sure any fly shop will point you in the right direction.
Tying might take a little longer (just the set up really) but like anything, after a while you can get really proficient at it.
I will never discourage someone from learning something new and exploring all the possiblilities that they can uncover.
What might work for you might not work for me. You know what I mean. Learn and discover.
That's what this sports all about really. Good luck.
Joe

[SpeyrodMike]

Hey thanks a lot both of you. I think i'll have to try it.

[gt]

get the HMH tube fly jig, some tubes and go to work. i don't find tubes take me any longer that any other fly i tie. as already stated, the 4xshort, 4xstout hooks are a real advantage to this methodology. you can also change the decent rate by using thin or thick wall brass in various lengths and then add some aluminum for that intermediate sink rate.

these flies are simple attractors so not much time is involved. once you get used to the 360 degree concept, things move right along. you can also increase the length of your fly profile by simply dressing the hook itself. i usually add some krystal flash if i am going to do that.

[tightlines]

I recently bought a tube fly starter kit and joined the tube fly swap. I had never tied a tube before and I was amazed at how easy it is. I can tie a tube in about half the time it takes me to tie the same pattern on a streamer hook. I may be the exception, but I found tying tubes was easy, straightforward, and quick. Give it a try and you will know what I mean.

[MrP]

Once you get the tube fly adapter and the supplies you're in business. They really aren't any more difficult to tie. In addition to the already listed advantages another one, for me anyway, occurs when I'm fishing from the beach particularly if there is a good slope to the beach. One knick on the rocks behind me and the hook point is broken off. That probably doesn't happen much to the other guys who have posted in this thread but it happens to me. Being able to just change the hook as opposed to retiring the fly is an advantage.

[Don Stracener]

I started with tubes last year. I don't find them any different to tie than the same pattern on a hook. You can tie on plastic, aluminum or copper tubes for different sink rates.

The fly last longer since the hook and fly normally separate, leaving just the short shank hook in the fish’s mouth.

It’s no big deal to try and worth the effort.

[Micke]

I think you must try to tie som tube flies, its fun and fast:thumb:

[fredaevans]

I used to tie a lot of 'tube fly's, very seldom now. I've found the Waddington Shanks far superior for my personal use.

http://www.waterswest.com/waddingtonshanks.htm

Put the above link up as it shows the different sizes you can purchase. You put these in your regular vise and tie away. There are two ways to attach the hook: the lower portion of a Waddington 'opens up' so you can slip in a single short shank/ring eye hook (the Brit's usually use a small treble) or you can use them (rig them) like you would a tube fly.

The front end of a Waddington has a slight 'up-eye ring,' your leader goes through this and down the side of the "fly." Slip on a bit of tubing, slip the leader through this, tie on your hook (again, usually a short shank ring eye), and push the tube section over the flat end of the shank, push in the hook, pull the leader tight and your ready to go.

With a "hook up," the tube will normally pull off the end of the shank just like a tube fly.

[Les Johnson]

After tying tube flies for more than twenty years and co-authoring a book "Tube Flies" with Mark Mandell, I give them a vote for a variety of situations, including all listed thus far on this thread.
1. You can change hook sizes as needed, including going from a single to a gang hook rig for sailfish, marlin and the like.
2. Tied in the round, particularly for steelhead and salmon in rivers they have no top or bottom, thus look the same to the fish from all angles.
3. You can gain a lot of bulk with a tube fly without adding too much weight or material since you are tying around a tube. Great for large baitfish and squid patterns.
4. If you have the need to tie a very realistic baitfish pattern, a tube is hard to beat.
5. When going to BC, Alaska or Baja, you can fish for a week with a couple of dozen tube flies, a few popper heads and perhaps three sizes of hooks. Easy and compact to pack.
Good Tying,
Les Johnson

[Anil]

5. When going to BC, Alaska or Baja, you can fish for a week with a couple of dozen tube flies, a few popper heads and perhaps three sizes of hooks. Easy and compact to pack.
Good Tying,
Les Johnson
One addition to this great list:
5b. When travelling, these flies can be "carried on." At least you know some of your flies made the trip, hooks can be purchased at many locations where flies cannot.
Anil