Category Archives: Tube Flies

April Vokey explains how to tie a tube fly. You can visit April’s website at https://anchoredoutdoors.com

From Piscator Flies:
“During the spring and fall, you can find an abundance of water boatman and backswimmers habituating in still water fisheries oblivious to the trout. These bugs can make up a good portion of a trout’s diet during these months, and especially into the fall when bulking up is a priority.

Bob states that he has been offered many Corixa (Water boatmen) and Notonectidae (backswimmer) patterns over the years, but has had most of his success with this backswimmer fly pattern while fishing the lakes of Saskatchewan.

Bob also points out the misnomer that the bugs leave a trail of bubbles behind as they dive, the initial reason for the crystal flash tail. While this may not hold true, he opted to include this feature in order to add a little bit of stabilization to the otherwise tail-less fly and to give predators another trigger to gaze upon.”

Materials list:

Hook: Firehole 315 #10-16Weight: 4-6 wraps of non-lead wire (0.035)
Thread: Olive 8/0 (70d)
Tail: 2 strand pearl or olive crystal flash
Shellback: 12-16 pheasant tail fibers
Body: Olive Senyo’s Laser Dub or sub
Legs: Brown goose biots
Head: Olive Senyo’s Laser Dub or sub
Coating: Bone Dry UV resin

From Gunnar:
“The Glide Fly is an all around (Fresh/Salt and Still Water/River) Predator Tube Fly. The fly fishes best on an 8wt and above and can be tailored to both floating and sinking lines, and tied to match forage between 6-8″ long. The fly is ideally rigged with a supple leader material to maximize action such as 49 strand Nylon Coated Stainless Steel (Beadolon, Surflon, Rio Bite Wire in 20-30lb), or a limp Mono such as Rio’s Power Flex around 20lb.”

Materials:
Tube Fly Adapter and/or Converter Tool
HMH 1″ Small Copper Tubes
Strung Fuzzy Fiber (Light Tan, White, Cream)
Big Fly Fiber Straight (White)
Magnum Flashabou Blend (Silver, Gold, Orange dyed Pearl, Holo Green)
Accent Flashabou (Dyed Pearl Peach)
Lateral Line Flash (Dyed Pearl Pink)
Steve Farrar Blend (Peacock, UV White)
Wing N’ Flash (Fl. Yellow, Copper)
Strung Fuzzy Fiber (Dark Olive)
3/8″ Flashabou Mirage Dome Eyes
Shoe Goo
Softex

Everything below is provided by Gunnar for this video.

“This video is intended as a Primer on Predator Tube Fly Design. It includes the topics of “Why” tube flies are worth experimenting with, “How” to design them to maximize balance, momentum, and action, and ends with the specific fishing techniques to get the most out of there design. Tutorials for the flies in this video will be posted and linked below when made available.”

Note worthy things:
HMH Small Copper Tubes 1″
HMH Large Copper Tubes 1″
HMH Large Rigid Tubes
HMH Junction Tubing (Large) 3/16″ O.D.
HMH Tube Fly Converter (HMH Vises only) – comes with pins
HMH Tube Fly Adapter (normal vise) – comes with pins
Sedotti’s Slammer Variation tied on the New HMH 1/8″ Dia. Predator Tubes (not available yet)

“Note: Leader Builds with Nylon Coated Stainless Steel – I omit the Liner Tubing provided with the Copper Tubes. You must use the Liner Tubing if running a Mono Leader or the square edge of the tube will cut the Mono! ”

“For Stainless Steel Leaders, Check out Rio’s Bite Wire (20lb and 30lb work best) Tie knots as normal – recommend using a Uni Knot to the Hook and Perfection Loop for the Loop to Loop.”

Hooks:
Kona BGH 4/0
Gami SL12S 1x Short! (Black Nickel)

“Also Note: Large Hook eyes such as most Saltwater 4/0 and above will NOT fit into the junction tubing highlighted in this video. Check the Mark Sedotti Slammer Video (when available) to see Tubing and Junction Tubing intended for 4/0 and above hooks.”

Tim Flagler shows us how to tie Steve Herter’s Bastard Midge. Tim mentions this is a good pattern to try in the Winter midge season.

Materials list:

Hook: Dai Riki #320 size 20
Thread: Veevus 10/0 – red
Shuck: Wood Duck
Back and Antannae: Elk hair
Hackle: Grizzly midge size saddle