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First published August 1st 2007

Dual Tube Phlyz

A new method for tying huge flies for striped bass

By Pete Gray

Pete Grays huge Tube Phlyz
Pete Gray

DualTubeHerringPhlyz... my very own... PharSidePhlyz developed and produced here at Area61! There aren't too many phly guyz in these parts who have opted for this methodology. Clousers, Deep sand eel variations, and Deceivers reign supreme as does sinking and intermediate lines and the soup dejour... they have a place in the big scheme of things!

I'm not a big fan of the standard tubular classics... granted, they serve their purpose and catch picky river preditors... I was more motivated to combine flat wing/deceiver/hollow tie/whatever to my particular tastes and applications and isn't that what innovative tying is all about anyway!?

In an effort to entice larger striped muggers (stripers) during the spring herring run here on Cape Cod when Big Girlz venture back into the shallow estuaries to the herring runs, I started tying 8-12+ inches herring flyz...





  
 Dual tube system
 Dual tube system 
Martin Joergensen
 
The junction tube seated at the end of the body tube had the hook running too far back for my liking, so after some R&D at my DynaKing and numerous visits to the fly drowning pool (back porch hot tub) I developed some promising prototypes of my own design and notion.
Larger BigEyed epoxy heads proved effective as did the slightly lighter but esthetically pleasing Jungle Cockeyed versions.

With the incorporation of my tandem junction tube I was able to move the centre of gravity forward for a more natural and enticing appearance and, since the muggers seemed to prefer assaulting head on, my hook up rate improved as well.

More tubed and untube Pete Gray Phlyz
Pete Gray



  
 Pete Gray's Squid Tubez
 Pete Gray's Squid Tubez 
Pete Gray
 
I don't like using these when the toothy Blues appear out in deeper waters because of the shredding that goes on. Older tired soldiers get sacrificed now and then but the Blues attack from the sides trying to cut the fly in half. Trailer hooks might help but that's not my thing. I like horizontal Stripes best!

I prefer heavier 10-11 weight gear overlined with floating lines. Casts are not long and the drifts are key with the undulating motion of the long hackles that brings out the beast and 6 feet of 20 lbs. flourocarbon simplifies the basic presentation! Tapers are optional and effective for longer casts.

My goal is to "insinuate" movement and mass without trying to throw heavy phur n' pheater look-a-likes. For my efforts, the DualTube is spot on with the hook up front.

Sofarsogood!




User comments
From: Uncle Barry · talonaurora·at·dodo.com.au
Submitted February 15th 2008

Good evening Pete,
I don't know how to express myself enough,
Your Double Tube idea is perfect........ I think describes it best.
Of all the items on this site, to me this is it !
Your double tube has changed my ideas and thinking for both the salt and the freshwater for ever.

So simple, its been there all the time, but I never saw it.
And as a bonus the fly will ride vertical always.

Many thanks again for changing my fly World.
Kind regards,
UB

From: Pete Gray · area61·at·verizon.net
Submitted August 9th 2007

The example shown by Martin captures my tandem application intent nicely...
A minor suggestion would be to shorten the lower tube in order to bring the hook junction (and centre of gravity) as far forward as possible.
Most of my lower junction tubes are only 3/8"-1/2" long with just enough trailing soft tube to properly secure the hook.
Besides the thread wraps, I'll use some zap-a-gap or epoxy to weld things together and then apply the phinal phur n' pheathers and eyez to complete the desired "interpretation".
Less is more...Sparse is good...The intent is NOT to create hampsters or stuffed animals but to present an "insinuation" of shape and movement...
The long flowing material will undulate with the slightest currents during a dead drift (stay just tight enough to detect an assault)...an occassional irratic strip can also provoke a mugging...
Time onthewater is the best teacher and a good prozac alternative!

From: Pete Gray · area61·at·verizon.net
Submitted August 3rd 2007

re: that chair...google "air chair"...I've got a knock-off...When I say I'm just hangin' around, I really am! TWO (2) thumbs up!

re: CRAP!!!!..."Where was I"...sorry, "just hangin' around!" Too bad I missed the cut...I posted my DualTube on flyfishingforum a few years ago and posted here sometime last August...maybe I'll make "Tubez part Deux, the Next Generation"
Go figure!?

From: Bob Abrams · icepeep·at·aol.com
Submitted August 2nd 2007

Tell us about that chair.

From: Bob Kenly · rkenly·at·centurytel.net
Submitted August 1st 2007

CRAP !!!!! where were you when I was putting my book "Tube Flies Two:Evalution" together, I just gotta send this to my Neurosurgeon who fishes Stripers in your neck of the World. WELL DONE


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