Colin came up with the idea for Drilled Out Tubes (DOT) for low water fishing on his home river, the Tweed, in England. The tube will allow the use of salmon or steelhead sized hooks and a very small pattern. For Atlantic Salmon small patterns are commonly used when the water is low and clear. For steelhead, we see a similar tendency, and small patterns are also commonly used as “closer patterns” when fish are located on the dry but do not commit to it. Here is a step-by-step from Colin.
Insert liner tube.
DOT tubes were designed to be fished with a free dangling hook, but if you like you can insert a 3mm piece of tube and super glue it.
Place the assembled tube in the vise.
Tie in a tag.
Tie in a body.
Reverse tie a wing.
Tie in a hackle.
Add some glitter and JC.
C
Tie in a beard. Done.
For shorter winged flies, leave out the 3mm tube and fish the tube with a free dangling hook. The hook will stay within the wing length of the pattern.
