Tube Fly Troubles?

[BEK]

I have been fishing patterns tied on 3/32" hard plastic tubes lately. I've noticed that on all the fish I have caught the hook has stayed in the junction tubing. Eventually the plastic tube cracked in half, I assume from the leverage of having the hook remain in the junction tubing, thus acting like a long shanked conventional hook. What are you guys using for junction tubing? I have been using regular soft plastic with TMC 105 size 4 hooks. I have tried the softer silicon junction tubing, but it seems too loose and doesn't keep the hook riding the right way. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Brian

[Undertaker]

Are you using the vinyl tubing that comes with the tubes? If so, one trick I've learned over the years is after tying the fly and putting the junction tubing in place, is to mount a hook in the tubing. Leave it in there awhile and the vinyl tubing develops a memory. It will shape to the hook eye. The tubing will still hold the hook, but it will slip out more readily when you hook a fish.

[BEK]

Yeah, I am using the tubing that comes with the tubes. I have been keeping a hook in each fly so that I can store them in a regular fly box. Perhaps I haven't had the hooks on long enough for memory to develop?

[Undertaker]

Maybe... Another thing to try is shortening the tubing, so only part of the hook eye is affixed. If that doesn't work, I'd look around for some smaller silicone tubing. The tubing included with Loop bottle tubes is perfect for the 3/32" tubing (but I can't get it to fit the Loop tubes; go figure). Unfortunately, I don't have a source for it on its own.

[Norseman]

Talk to someone on the medical profession. And get yourself some of the IV tubing used with Saline solution...Intervenous Line...it is some of the best thin walled plastic tubing around.....nice a supple and releases well.

Doctor...emerg rooms, paramedics all have access to it and it just gets thrown out after use.


Paul

[JimT]

Another thing you can try is to dip the end of your tubing in HOT water or steam for a few seconds. While the tubing is still soft, insert the hook eye and put the whole thing under cold water. The tubing will take a set and should hold and release the hook. Its kind of involved and a little messy but, you might salvage the tubing you have until you can find something better.

Jim T

[BEK]

Paul,

I never thought of the IV tubing. I'm a Firefighter/EMT so getting some should'nt be too hard. Thanks for the suggestion.

Brian

[Norseman]

Hi Brian.

One of the really nice things about IV tubing is that if you are using plastic lined metal tubes to get down deep, the wall thickness of the IV is so thin that it will match the diameter of the metal tubes perfect without a big unsightly bump at the junction.

[Neil]

Another suggestion is,
dont push the junction tubing on to the fly itself.Just let it butt up to the fly.
I have been using this method for the last couple of years with out any problems.
If any thing it helps keel the hook in the correct attitude in the water,
point up.
Speyladdie :smokin:

[Michael Koch]

I have stopped using "weighted" tubes many years ago and instead chosen to use a heavier sinking tip/line instead.

This for many obvious reasons.
1) Weighted tubes cast terrible and land with a plumb.
2) They can be pretty dangerous, with their delays
3) They dont "swim" very good and thus are not so lively
4) On lighter rods # 6-8 they are just really awful to cast/control
5) You cant use a fine and long tippet, if and when required.
6) You cant really make a 100% foolproof system to keep the hook attached and still be loose enough.

Nowadays I only tie tubes on simple soft plastics where you can easily and lightly insert any hook, being either a single, double or treble. The Plastics come in a huge variety of sizes to suit and fit any hook. And finally, they are a whole lot cheaper !!!

Moreover there are nothing that fishes so lively and elegant as a plastic tube, fished both floating, subsurfaced and really deep. I usually carry a Rio Windcutter Spey / or Midspey versitip with sinkers up to rate VIII, this tip will take a plastic tube on a short tip (3-6 feet) down as quick and fast as a weighted tube on a normal sinker - and do it a lot more comfortable.
Should you change to another part of the river with different flow/currents, this is easier controlled with the line sinking rate.

I have found that you actually have a much better control over your fly and the depth you fish - controlling the line, rather than using a weighted tube.
The weighted tubes very often get stuck in the stones and rocks - very easily, wheras the light plastic tube, meeting a current-swirvel from a rock, will swing up and over - or around the stone/rock, making it very lively, attrackting more strikers.

Michael

[speyman]

I sell silicone tubing for connectors instead of the stiff vinyl stuff. It stretches like crazy and stays put but pops right off on fish. Best of all it is cheap and comes in a variety of colors.

[Rybkin Alex]

to have plastic insertion in tube fly? I try to produce my own tubes(much cheaper and any size&weight I want) and with no plastic in I can increase weight without increasing size.Here are some of them. Already used and fish brought...