False albacore by award-winning watercolorist Thom Glace – here’s a link to his awesome gallery. Contact Captain Andrew Derr for Long Island, New York, for spring flats, and fall ocean running gamefish.
angling Metal tube flies have seen a dramatic rise in popularity
Henry Clement, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, August 2023.
By Skip Clement
Across Europe, especially in Scandinavia, metal tubes are spreading deeper into the UK and many Commonwealth countries, angling communities. Offshore billfish anglers, meanwhile, have long championed tube flies, dating back to the early reports of the global association adopting IGFA rules for only its elite members. Notably, Jake Jordan has highlighted that the true key to landing large saltwater species lies in the reel.
The expansion of tube fly use in North America now extends well beyond salmon and steelhead
Anglers have rapidly adopted tube flies for a variety of species, including crappie, tarpon, stripers, bonefish, trout, bass, and more.
Many attribute this transition to the widespread acceptance of metal tube flies, with advocates like Ruben Martin (Argentina), Tim Flagler (US), Mikael Frödin (Sweden), Jay Nicholas (US), Peter Charles (Canada), Sean Woods (Wales), April Vokey (Canada), Davie McPhail (Wales), HMH (US), Mad River Outfitters (US), Pro Tube (Denmark), Orvis (US), Global Flyfisher (Denmark), and many others driving innovation and awareness.
Europe and the Commonwealth countries boast a vast number of expert tube fly tiers—too many to list
This is also increasingly true in North America. For anyone seeking instruction or inspiration, YouTube is a valuable resource.
Note:
Several attempts to reach the Canadian Tube Fly Company in January were unsuccessful. Unconfirmed reports suggest the business operates sporadically.
For web searchers chasing metal tube flies, don’t waste time if your search starts with tools
Searching for metal tubes for fly tying can sometimes lead to outdated websites that advocate DIY methods of cutting your own metal tubes—a process more suited to plumbers and pipe fitters. Cutting metal tubes is labor-intensive and requires specialized tools. While various hacks circulate, there is little evidence to support their effectiveness or efficiency, making them questionable investments of time or money.
New MICRO-Tube Flies
The introduction of metal micro-tube flies made from hypodermic needles revolutionized Atlantic salmon fishing in Europe, particularly under low-water conditions. Scandinavia led the charge, and the success with salmon and low water soon carried over to trout and other smaller game fish—a topic for later next week—a fascinating development.
In practice, purchasing pre-cut HMH metal tubes—especially their MICRO-Tubing—has proven to be the most reliable solution for pros and beginners
For good tube-tying information on metal tube flies, Sean Woods’s video is an excellent resource. CLICK HERE . . .
For all your tube-fly needs. Here’s where–click here…
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