Tube flies made cheap and easy

[Carl Blackledge]

Hey Guys,

Here is how I tie the tube flies cheap and easy. First, I take a few 4/0 or 6/0 long-shanked hooks and cut the eyes off them. Then I take the tube and slide it over the shank and half way around the curve of the hook, making a candy cane looking item out of it, then tie it off with thread, slip the hook in the vice and tie away. After the fly is tied, then grab the tying hook with a pair of pliers and pull the shank out of the tube and cut the curved part off. Now you're good to go. Cheap and easy. Been using this system for 20 years.

I buy my tubes in New York, They might even be ink cartridges, they cost about a nickle each and you have to buy 500.

I know lots of other fly guys go to the hardware store and buy little PVC soft tubing used for ice maker and water lines for pennies.

Hope some of this helps.

I really like using tube flies.

Carl Blackledge