plastic tubes

[madkeen]

This season I am going to use more plastic tubes early season(on sinking lines).The thinking that the line weight will pull the tube down and the lighter tube will have more action than brass tubes.Does anybody else use these or do most people still use copper/aluminium

[jkboy]

Thinking of adopting a similar strategy myself madkeen. Never tried it before, but tied a few on the Guideline plastic tubing. Hopefully it pays off

[altmor]

Save some money and use discarded cotton buds for cleaning your ears. Burr the ends down, cut to whatever length you fancy, and it's as good a body skeleton as you'll get.

[madkeen]

Never thought of that altmor tomorrow i'm off to boots ;D

[Willow Man]

I always use plastic, but never cotton bud plastic as it splits when spey casting.
The best bet is to use an old biro pen insides as these are much stronger and so last longer.
I have used these for 25+ years so you could say they have been tested.

Cheers WM

[rennie]

Ah,now then here we go understand fully why your thinking has brought you to plastic tubes but ask yourself this question do you want your fly to look alive or do you want the dressing to look alive?.Plastic tubes can get washed about all over the shop in a lively current but certainly look more life-like in more sedate currents whereas weighted tubes look dead in slow currents then come alive in the faster ones.My thoughts are its down to how the fly is dressed, plastic or metal tubes pick the appropriate one and then dress it to gain the best semblance of life.I do feel its better to keep options open,but there again confidence is a great road to success.Why not try it and see how things work for you?.Hope you understand what I am trying to say here,if it helps have seen more than a few fish hooked about the head when using plastic tubes on short leaders on quick sink lines in lively currents.The attraction is obviously there but maybe the technique is still to be perfected?.

[altmor]

Never had a problem with cotton buds - but you do have to burr the ends with a cig lighter. I find if you tap the heated end on a flat surface it helps roll the burring neatly and smoothly ... would you be doing the "whip-crack double spey cast" WM, because I've split copper tubes doing that before !! ;D

[speycaster]

the plastic tubes wont split if you rib them with a thicker material , i have never split one yet even on a full sinker

[Fruin]

Check the plastic tubes on the cotton buds. Some have fine lines running down them that will cause the tube to split. I was speaking to a renowned tyer yesterday and he reckons that Boots ones are the best. The ones I used to use are blue but I cannot remeber were they are from.

[madkeen]

Here is some of my early season tubes that i have tied on plastic and going to give them a soaking on Kercock on 3rd feb.
i134.photobucket.com/albums/q85/madkeen/IMG_0013-1.jpg

[hornet]

Madkeen,

They look the dogs gonads and should do you well.

I use plastic and ally for the summer and stick with copper for early and back end.

Never tried your proposed method but may give it a go in a few weeks when i get oot. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Hornet

[Fruin]

If I want a lighter tube I go for Aluminium. I am not a fan of plastic, as they sometimes sit like a dry fly until the line puls them under, and this makes me wonder if they hinder the sink rates of the lines.