Tube Fly Question?

[Stonefish]

I'm new to tying tube flies after having tied flies for 25 years.

What do most folks prefer, attaching the junction tube before tying the fly or afterwards?

Thanks,
Brian

[Roger Stephens]

Brian:

It is easier to attach the junction tubing onto the the tube before tying a pattern. Most of the time, I precut the tube to the length which I want then tie the pattern(ex. clouser minnow). However, I will use a tube a little longer than needed when tying a floating tube pattern. After tying the pattern I cut off the excess front part of the tube.

Roger

[Philster]

I'm new to tying tube flies after having tied flies for 25 years.

What do most folks prefer, attaching the junction tube before tying the fly or afterwards?

Thanks,
Brian

Okay here's the deal. For standard old school in the round steelhead flies, it doesn't matter. But lots of folks believe that for streamers (minnow imitations) where you're casting and retrieving, keeping the hook point as close to the nose of the fly, and using the shortest shank hook possible will minimize fouling the wing in the hook. Look at Les' first tube book and see how they tie over the junction tubing. It's certainly the most attractive way to do it.

It's true for the most part, and I used to sweat that on my mexico flies. But then tube vises like the HMH, with what's basically an electric drill chuck to hold the tube came along. They hold the hook incredibly securely and make tying on tubes identical to tying on a hook with no slipping. But they don't hold the junction tubing, only the tube itself.

So I sacrifice the good looks of tying over junction tubing and the slight antifouling advantage. But what I gain is, being able to use different junction tubing on the same fly. I now tie flies that with a simple swap of junction tubing lets me fish a size 6 or 8 hook AND a 2 or even 2/0. A size 2 is all you need for "normal" baja, and most saltwater fishing short of true big game stuff. Very versatile and allows me to fish really cool flies I normally wouldn't tie for everyday fishing in the Sound. Cool seahabits and other elaborate epoxy stuff I wouldn't normally tie for the fish in my own backyard.

I do however cut the tubing behind the fly I slip the junction tubing on as short as possible, but making sure I have enough tubing there that when I slip on bulky silicone tubing it doesn't affect how the wing lays... And I usually fish a true short shank big game hook like an Owner Aki, or Trey Combs down south.