Illustration by award-winning watercolorist and illustrator Thom Glace – rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout. Used with permission.
Now, no fish is safe
Henry Clement, Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, August 2023.
By Henry Clement
By harnessing the versatility of tube flies, both spin fishers and fly fishers have expanded their reach and effectiveness. The merging of these two worlds introduces a new level of bite-temptation that challenges fish everywhere. Think striped bass, white bass, panfish, smallmouth bass, bonefish, walleye, salmon, snook, trout, pike, sea trout, redfish, false albacore, and more.
The main advantage is a higher hookup rate, which appeals to most anglers
There are numerous videos on tying tube flies. Some anglers show a preference for using bare tubes—made from brass, copper, tungsten, aluminum, or even stainless steel needles that have captured the favor of Scandinavian salmon, brown trout, and sea trout anglers.
Currently, experienced tube fly anglers [Scandinavia/UK/Northwest US, Great Lakes] advocate for using naked tube alternatives
Naked tubes rely solely on streamer materials, flanking the bare tube with artificial fibers, animal hair, or both to create flies that drastically reduce short strikes. These naked tube flies—especially ‘needle tubes’—take the concept of sparsely tied flies, such as Capt. Andrew Derr‘s rendition of the Sand Eel elevates their sparseness to a new level.
Thom Glace, the award-winning watercolorist, commissioned a striper that is one of the best illustrations of Morone saxatilis.
The name of these ‘naked’ tube flies is called Needle Tube Flies
Needle tube flies are just a step up from coloring-book difficulty to tie, provided you can stay within the lines and enjoy detailed work. While you may start off slowly, all you need are a vise adapter and HMH’s tube fly kit, which has everything you’ll need. Fortunately, it’s not an expensive investment, and I’d argue it’s one of the best you can make in your fly-tying journey.
So, who has all the stuff?
The best bet is HMH [link below]. Pointing out their specialness because they have everything you’ll ever need in equipment to tie a needle tube fly or any other type of tube fly. The investment, barring knee-jerk tariff revenge episodes, is around $100. Add a vise from HMH-click here.
You can be assured you will become addicted to tying your needle tube flies
Casting with tube flies offers unique advantages. Landing fish that previously short struck becomes an exciting new possibility. For many, simply catching more fish is reward enough. Try a tube or needle tube fly for a more enjoyable day on the water.
Featured Image: Captain Andrew Derr with a spring run striper. Photo credit Capt. Derr
CONTACT:
HMH Tube Supplies, including needle tube resources:
- Phone
207 729-5200
- Fax
- Address
432 Elm St US Rt 1, Ste H, Biddeford, ME 04005
VIDEOS
Alexandra Needle tube / Ryan Houston
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