Waddintons....or Tubes

[enfieldspares]

Going through my late father's bit and pieces I cam across a number of "irons" for Waddintons.

Are Waddintons still used? Or have Tubes all but replaced them? Do I gain any advantage from a Waddinton, or, because I must use it with the hook "tied in" do I suffer any disadvantage?

Also does one have to use a "two point" Waddinton on beats that disallow treble hooks?

[altmor]

Hi Enfieldspares,
I used mostly waddingtons last year both front end and back end as an experiment, since I would traditionally use tubes. Results were interesting, I caught more on waddingtons than by comparison, I did in previous years using tubes.
I tied them up myself to match the tube patterns I would regularly fish, the willie gun doing particularly well both in spring and back end.
I now have over 100 wadds in my box (varying patterns and sizes), and will be wetting a good few of them in the not too distant future - starting on the Tay at Waulkmill. I might try alternating between wadds and tubes on the same day just to test the theory more. Will keep you posted over the next month.

[Willie The Gillie]

I am sure its mainly about faith - and strange how we only ever catch them on the one we're using. Seen and used both deadly wadds and tubes - the one thing that I am convinced makes a significant difference is when any fly is tied up in materials that have more movement than others ie fox instead or with bucktail, schlappen instead of cock hackles, marabou, ostrich etc adding fly movement in addition to the swing. Watched this season Illtyd Griffiths (sea trout guru) take resident springer after springer on Newtyle last April after other seasoned APGAI salmon men had already been through the pools with the normal bucktail/cock hackle flies. Alot of guys like Illtyd will 'tank test' a fly in the morning off the jetty before considering using it to fish with. Iam sure it transforms the lure from a fly to a livebait easpecially if its worked right to the dangle Anything that doesn't look right just doesn't get used !!
Watched Hakan Norling with one of his temple dog patterns and a Frodin turbo disc take a lovely springer late March during an 8ft dirty spate - again attention to movement from the disc and materials. That with was the only one reported on Fishtay that day although the conditions obviously played a big part. If your not already doing this try playing about with flies that move like their alive in the water in the same patterns you currently prefer and see if it ups your take ratio - Happy New Year.

[Sloggi]

I agree with W the G in that more mobile materials are better takers whether tied on tubes, waddies, singles etc... I'm going to fish with these new disc cones this year which allow softer materials to be used. When I've used marabou in the wing or in tails of other flies, they end up looking like algae but these new discs allow for turbulence to create a space behind the disc for the softer material to pulse.

W the G - how's Birnam? It's my home town and I learned to fly fish for trout at Murthly.

[acw]

I like waddys as they have slimmer bodys,and come between ally and copper/brass tubes in weight ,so fish at different depth.
I dont attach the hook to the rear "ring" but thread nylon thru both rings and silicone sleeve tie on hook and snug it all up ,not very elegant but works for me with trebles, doubles( Patrige BM doubles -the now hook for me )and even single short shanks.
Just another way to get a different weight of fly with a thinner hard image on the shank !

[Willie The Gillie]

Hello Sloggi - Birnam's braw and lovely water on all the beats in the area as you know. I've just tied up some aluminium 2" tubes on my favourite patterns - gold bodied Willie gunn - Black/Yellow, Orange/Yellow and a Orange/Red pattern that does very well at the backend. I've mounted a 12mm Frodin disc on the nose and tied them up with marabou & Arctic Fox. Unbelievable movement in the water and even on top of the radiator !! We'll be harling them on Newtyle this Spring but I am already sure of the outcome ! You know where my blue hut is - if your passing call in. Regards Jock

[Sloggi]

Cheers Jock. I have fond memories of growing up in Birnam/Dunkeld. Spent many an hour cutting bracken on Newtyle Hill - Glad I'm not doing that anymore

I've tied some of Frodin's discs. Mainly the smaller Blue Charm variant on micro tubes that he had such success on last year on Lower Dess on the Dee. I think some of these bigger versions should be called "Rapala Flies" - I've tied a couple that are longer that some of my original floaters