Here is a very simple and easy way of rigging your tube flies. This is how I rig all of my wet flies. Whether fishing Steelhead and Salmon here at home or Atlantic salmon, sea trout or saltwater species abroad.
I tie on the 3mm tube. No liner tube or junction required.
You’ll want to use a tube of 1/3 to 1/2 the length of the finished fly. Begin wrapping your thread near the head of the fly. Wrap the thread tight. Squeezing the 3mm tube a bit. This will act as a stopping point for your loop knot. Keeping the knot from pulling through.
Here is an example of the finished fly. I don’t dress my tubes with any tinsel or dubbing since I started using the coloured sparkle tube. Although this method works just fine if you prefer to add dubbing, tinsel, rib or hackle to the tube.
To rig an up eye bait hook. I tie a surgeon loop. When I tighten the knot I pull the tag end back against the knot. Resulting in a fatter knot. This just creates a tighter fit in the tube. I also leave a bit of a tag on the knot.
Then I just pull the knot up into the tube until the hook is at the desired location.
This method works great for straight eye hooks too. Whether you are using singles or doubles.
The only possible downside for some people to this method. Is you need to use 15lbs. Tippett or heavier for the knot to be secure in the tube. But in my opinion. If you are using flies large enough to be tying on the 3mm tube. Tippett thickness is not an issue. So use heavy tippet. I personally use 20lbs. for all my steelhead fishing and as much as 40lbs. for Chinook.
Another advantage for me, tying on the 3mm tube is that these tubes never break. Making my flies much more durable.
If you want to add a cone to this checkout the 3.2mm cones they fit perfect on the 3mm tube. The cone will also increase the durability of the fly by protecting the head.
I like this method because it is so simple. I am always looking for the most effective simplest way to do things.
Happy fishing!
Derek.
