Wakers on tubes?

[SparseHairHackl]

FLGator sent me some terrific flies awhile back--some wakers tied on tubes. I finally got one of them wet yesterday. While I didn't hookup, I was pleased with how the fly looked on the water, and I fished with complete confidence.

The fly was a Disco Mouse variation. Without a hitch, it fished more like a muddler, but with the hitch, it made a heavier wake in heavy water, and a lighter wake in smooth water. Perfect! (And thanks again, Chris!) So I am now even more curious about tube flies, not having tied any myself.

Sticking to dries, who of you have fished dries on tubes? Patterns? Hitch or no? Do any of you use the hole in the bottom of the tube instead of a hitch? Do you see any benefits to a tube for a waker other than a probably improved ratio of landings to hookups?

--Bill

[sinktip]

I fish a Boob Tube pattern that Kush got me fishing some summers back. I love the way it wakes and it is unsinkable. Yes I do use the hole in the bottom method. I have never tried hitching them but suppose it might work.

[wrke]

I fish various patterns . . . similar to bombers, muddlers and a very small scottish (size 10) fly. I put my holes on each side of the tube . . . depending on which side of the river I'm fishing.

[kush]

wrke,

I used to put the hole on either side of the tube as well. However, I found that the hole on the bottom works very well and I don't have to change the hookup when I switch sides of the river as the bottom hole wakes like mad from either side,

I will post a photo of the Boob Tube when I get home.

[kush]

Here is a purple version of the Boob Tube. I also tie it with natural deer hair as well as with yellow foam eyes.

Oneof the big advantages is the ability to use a relatively small hook and the wide gape it provides for positive hook-ups.

[wrke]

Kush
I hope the Gaspé salmon won't be offended . . . I'll try it (maybe in green) this June.
Bill

[SSPey]

with the big, um, 'eyes' on there, it really looks like a fly (dipteran)

[FLGator]

Kush,
I like it! Great idea that truly looks unsinkable. Thanks for sharing.

I've been tying a few dry patterns on tubes and Waddington's on my quest for the ultimate skater. Looking forward to some feedback from the fish as well as a couple of the anglers I've sent prototypes too.

SparshairHackle's skater is also one that looks very fish and fisherman friendly. I'm really excited to try his patterns this Summer/Fall.

Can't wait!


Chris

[FLGator]

Kush,

P.S. What's the black tubing material you used? Is that brake line?

Thanks
Chris

[kush]

yup - standard "spaghetti tubing" brake line.

[Bee]

I tied many many tube wakers last year before my trip to BC . ..I was encouraged to pursue them by a friend who had shown me his waking tube flies while on the Rio Grande a few years ago.......he uses the same flies in BC with good results(assuming right water etc). I tied everything you could imagine . ... some of the Boob flies , tube versions of the tom thumb , and just standard dry patterns on tubes...some were very small(8's, 10's)) in anticiaption of very low water etc. As it turned out the low water did not exist, and the larger patterns in 4 and 6 worked fine...they work, and small hole in the bottom of the tube is workable, although I am not sure it is superior to the hitch. The location of the hole is a tricky item..as a rule I would say the smaller and lighter the fly, the closer to the end of the tube for the hole placement. If the hole is too far back on the light flies they do not swim correctly for me. I experimented with lighter tippets and that has a bearing too....but I am not a fan of going to light on the tippets generally for steelhead.

[Rob Estlund]

Kush, what kind of foam was that for the boobies? (huh, huh, huh... He said boobies!) And do you also fish that fly with a hole out the bottom of the tube, or just "normal" since it'll obviously float?

[kush]

Rob,

I use the foam sticks that you get in fly shops - the same one that is split and used for the back of "Foamer-type" flies. I use the 3/8" sticks.

I use the hole in the bottom, though it wakes very well without it. The way it cocks the fly up makes for such a cool wake that I always do it.

[sinktip]

Rob,

I think Kush missed the second question in your post. Yes, the hole in the bottom is used on the Boob Tube. I have fished it with and without and find it has a lot more action when the tippet comes from the bottom.

sinktip

[kush]

Ha - I was answering the second part as an edit - and actually had to work for a while :rolleyes: - so it sat there on edit while I described the Battle of the Atlantic to my class.

[sinktip]

My sincere apologies fellow moderator for jumping in and answering for you.

[kush]

That's okay, you probably fish them more than I do anyway! :D

[SSPey]

SparshairHackle's skater is also one that looks very fish and fisherman friendly. I'm really excited to try his patterns this Summer/Fall.


they're quite good, and I just hit the motherlode - thanks Bill!

[Rob Estlund]

Thank you again Kush! (you too 'tip) You are always so generous with your information.

[SparseHairHackl]

Thanks everybody for your replies.

Just one question for you boob tubers and the like...

Is foam good enough for steelhead? :lildevl:

All those beautiful Spey and Dee flies--and even the complicated intruders--for sunk flies, but you use plastic and foam on the surface? :tsk_tsk:

You don't even have to worry about losing flies on the surface, so you can use something a bit more upscale than foam!!! :D



Seriously, look forward to seeing many of you at the Sandy Clave.

--Bill

[Bee]

Bill, ACtually I used deer hair heads on a lot of my wakers..I did try the boobie fly with the foam, but apparently the steelhead I put it in front of were offended by the foam and sulked at the bottom instead of smacking it...you think they smell the petro-chemicals in the foam???? Nice to see you in the Sub-way last year...

[sinktip]

Bill,

Very good question and one that is making me think. I have stated before that steelhead deserve only the best. Partly becuse I believe this and partly because I so enjoy dressing and fishing them, 90% of my fishing is done on somewhat traditional spey style flies. This includes both winter fishing with big irons and greased line summer work with 4s and 6s or 5s and 7s.

When it comes to topwater stuff though, I fish one of three flies: a purple muddler, the boob tube or my batwing (a deerhair and goop pattern that sinks like a rock unless under tension). With the possible exception of the muddler, none of these are traditional. I admit, I have never pondered if they are good enough for steelhead. They are certainly a case of form following function and I guess I would argue that they are acceptable as they do not replace a traditional pattern or approach but rather forge their own. Maybe this is just a pathetic rationalization too ;)

You still have me thinking!

[thebuddler]

gets you thinking: what are the classic traditional wakers? the oldest ones I can think of are ;Harry Lamires- Greasliner, Bill Bake's-dragonfly,and October caddis,Bill Mcmillan's Steelhead Caddis. All inspired by the Mighty Muddler ,All invevted in the 1960's. Atlantic Salmon Bomber,and Macontosh,were made to dead drift originally. people discoverd there effectivnes as wakers , by accident , at the end of the drift. I guess the earliest wakers, were riffle hitched wets, on portland creek,for atlantic salmon. I have found that Tech. deadly on Steelhead. Anyone have any input? Good question. Things like this ,is wy i really like the Spey Pages :)

[sinktip]

Still one of the best, although falling into that category of developed as a drag free floater, is Haig-Brown's Steelhead Bee. With the wings facing forward and the hackle underneath trimmed close, under tension it is a sweeeet waker.

[Rob Estlund]

Exactly how far along the tube do you typically put the hole on the bottom side of the bOOb tOOb? Behind the eyes, in front of the eyes, directly below the eyes, etc. I'm assuming it would make a major difference in how the fly rides. Also, Kush, in your tube above, is it necessary for the extra amount of "unused" tube in the front? It looks like any additional plane or floatation would come from the boobs themselves and not from that little amount of tube to the right of the boobs.

Thanks again. Can't wait to try them myself next month. Unfortunatly our local rivers are too low to even swing a fly to test these theories.

[Bee]

using a hot needle I run the hole on tubewakers just barely back of the head, realy just enough so it does not tear through the tube..run it all the way through the tube so you can attach leader from the hole on either side of the tube, depending on which side to the river you are fishing from..said another way, using the side holed tubes removes the need for the riffle hitch, as the side hole creates the same effect of pull as a side rigged riffle hitch...try this and try tying some bottom holed ones too and see how your paritcular pattern rides either way. It is important not to get the hole too far back in the tube of the fly or it will surf crazily and not waggle flip flop as you might want it to....

[kush]

Rob,

Like Bee indicates, I do not put the hole too far back on the tube. What I am trying to accomplish is to cock the fly up on an angle to add to the planing effect. As well, with the hole on the bottom of the tube I can use it from either side of the river, unlike a riffle-hitch. I considered putting the hole cross-ways as Bee does, but found that the fly waked so well as it was that I didn't need to bother with the holes at the side - so either way.

[Rob Estlund]

Thanks once again.