Joined: May 15, 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Portland, Maine
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 12:28 am Post subject: Spey Flies / Tube Flies
I wouldn't say that I am an avid spey fisherman by any means. But, I do have my spey rod and a switch rod that I use to throw spey flies to sea run brown trout here in Maine. I have also thrown spey flies for salmon here in Maine on some of our bigger waters. Though, I have fished them, especially the Atlantic Salmon spey flies that I have a box of from my GregB ... I don't tie them. So, the bottom line is ... I have fished them .. but, I don't fish them all that much .. I tend to roll with more traditional streamers and buggy leach patterns even when fishing for Salmon and Sea Run Brown Trout here in Maine. Alot of friends that I fish with in the great lakes throw spey flies for steelhead when the water temperature are optimal for swinging flies and jason-c from the west coast ties and throws tube flies as well. But, I tend to fish nymphs when I steelhead fish the Great Lakes .. just preferance I guess and/or most times when I find myself on the steelhead waters spey is not the most effective method for me due to cold water and/or the egg patterns are simply working better.
Joined: May 31, 2004 Posts: 111 Location: Colorado
Posted: Wed Jan 09, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject:
I generally fish with buggers like jeremy. Although I have been tying some steelhead intruder patterns for a trip to the OP in March. The things are ugly. Six inches long black and purple, blue and black, pink and black. I love em. Very fun to tie. I will give them a shot and let you know how I do.
Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 119 Location: Kodiak, Alaska in winter, bristol bay alaska in summer
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 6:29 am Post subject:
I fish tube flies A LOT especially if the fly is a big one like to swing with a sink tip whether it be with a two hander or singe hander.
Still i tie a lot of smaller and/or non swinging patterns on tubes. Mouse tube flies are killer and i will take a meduim to large sized wooly bugger or ESL on a tube over a hook anyday. They just have so many advantages,
Obviously you can tie a large pattern with a small hook which is great for the fish. Fishing a large tube fly leech is much easer on the fish than fishing with a leech on a size 6 or bigger streamer hook.
They swim better
They snag up less
They are cheaper to tie
They hook more fish when fishing patterns where fish hit from behind and will sometimes "short strike" such as a mouse pattern or wooly bugger.
The last longer because they slide up the leader so they don't get chewed up by the fish and you don't grab them with your foreceps
And they catch me more fish. I feel it's much harder for a fish to throw a small short shank hook that a big streamer hook.
Bottom Line IMO any fly tied on a size 6 or larger streamer, salmon or any other sort of long shape hook is better on a tube. They hook and land fish better for me, last longer, are easier on the fish and save me money, what else can i say!!!
Joined: May 31, 2004 Posts: 111 Location: Colorado
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject:
Good info KC. The patterns I have been tying (the intruders) have a stinger hook (the only hook size 8 or 10) in the back near the tail. I use the shank of a size 4 or 2 to tie the material to as well as a heavy piece of mono to attach my stinger to. Once I have completed the fly I snip the hook off of the shank so all that is left is the stinger in the back. Similar idea to a tube fly but no tube. Have you ever tied any like that?
Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Posts: 119 Location: Kodiak, Alaska in winter, bristol bay alaska in summer
Posted: Thu Jan 10, 2008 3:17 pm Post subject:
Quote:
Good info KC. The patterns I have been tying (the intruders) have a stinger hook (the only hook size 8 or 10) in the back near the tail. I use the shank of a size 4 or 2 to tie the material to as well as a heavy piece of mono to attach my stinger to. Once I have completed the fly I snip the hook off of the shank so all that is left is the stinger in the back. Similar idea to a tube fly but no tube. Have you ever tied any like that?
Absolutely, i have tied several patters like that including mouse, super prawn and intruder patterns.
However I would still rather use a tube since a tube is cheaper than a hook shank and can slide up the leader and doesn't rust so they last longer.
The rust point is a good one too. I always prefer to use hooks that rust out quickly for the fish's sake. So tube flies are great because your flies last as long as the material's on the hook, no need to worry about rust which is awesome if you fish the salt a lot.
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