Understanding the Turmoil of Tube Flies

The concept of tube flies is fairly well known, but we still get questions about the basic ideas as well as some of the new tube systems. This theme tries to answer them.

By Martin Joergensen

Orange and black fly with beads  Martin Joergensen

This tube fly theme has been divided into these sections: Tube Basics An introduction to the concept of tube flies and some arguments for using tubes rather than hooks. Tube Style Plate All kinds of tubes in an overview. Want to get an idea of the richness in the tube fly world? This is one place to look. Tube Styles Trying to grasp the many different styles and types of tubes available out there can be almost impossible. This article tries to set things straight and cover most of the tube styles currently on the market. Tube Tools This article dives into the different vises and tube fly holders, which is a world full of strange and complex contraptions as well as very simple devices. Tube Tying Techniques Tying on tubes is not unlike tying on hooks. This article tries to cover a small selection of the many different ways a tube fly can be tied. Styles and Patterns There are as many tube patterns out there as you can name in a lifetime, and there are so many different styles of tying. But this article still tries to bunch them into some common groups. Tube Ressources Want to go further than just this tube fly theme? Here are all the books, DVD's and web sites worth getting acquainted with.

Tube flies have long been stable flies for many salmon anglers all over the world, and these practical flies have also been adopted by salt water anglers in need of large flies. But tubes can be useful to almost any angler apart from those using the smallest of flies.

We frequently show tube fly patterns on the site and not rarely does that spawn some questions about the ins and outs of these flies. This theme will try to introduce newcomers to the basic concepts of tubes and pile some knowledge on top of the basics to extend a bit further on the subject.

Reasons why
There are several good reasons to tie and use tube flies:

• You separate fly and hook. Trash the fly and keep the hook or vice versa
• You can avoid the fly becoming a lever in the mouth of the fish
• You can tie large but still light flies
• You can tie some very heavy and compact flies
• You can construct some very special flies
• Tubes can be inexpensive (but also the opposite)

Black Back  Martin Joergensen	Copper Streak  Martin Joergensen	Germaniac tube fly  Martin Joergensen
Green Finish  Martin Joergensen	Lowwater Blues  Martin Joergensen	Orange André  Martin Joergensen

Go to article start ^ User comments

From: Steve Unwin · sjfunwin·at·aol.com Submitted April 20th 2008 My brother-in-law, Peter Harding Rolls, has been a wonderfully expert and successful fly fisher all his life. He caught some beautiful 30 lbs salmon in Tillamook Bay when he visited us in 1988. His arthritis now makes it difficult for him to tie his flies. Could you possibly suggest techniques to solve or ease this problem? If you can help, perhaps you could email him direct in the UK: plhrolls@talktalk.net. Otherwise I'd be happy to pass on any advice you can give me. Very many thanks. From: Carlos Heinsohn Submitted August 27th 2007 Great job, Martin and GFF Staff!! You wrote a complete book about tube flies. The best guide book we can see. Congrats! Carlos Heinsohn From: tony lark · tonylark·at·mac.com Submitted August 20th 2007 Thanks.Just started tying tube flies. In the 20 minutes that I spent reading your " ...Turmoil of Tube...", you have given me more insight into the nature of tube tying, than the many, many, many hours that I've spent trying to get the same information from the web. Seeing all the different tube types & etc. in one place can only help accelerate one's progress in tying tubes. Looking forward to more! Thanks, again From: Masi Hast · masi·at·perhokalastajat.net Submitted August 17th 2007 Great! Waiting for the next tube articles :)

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