Me again!!!

[johnmac]

Yes... i'm back... and now i've tied a couple of tubes! The top one is a one inch brass bottle tube... the bottom one a one inch Aluminium tube. No particular patterns.... just a bit of this and a bit of that

I've no real idea how and when to fish a tube and what length and colour for what conditions other than big in the Spring??

I'd be grateful of any advice..... bigger? fatter? longer? heavier? or heavier dressed?? Also any good colours for the Spring? I'll be fishing the Ericht.... so whatever you think may be suitable?

Thanks again! John.

[ryanol]

top class great flies your on the money now

[ryanol]

btw depending on water for size colour etc
but generally orange works for me

[Sloggi]

You need to get out more ;D

I like the top one - it looks fishy. The bottom one doesn't seem to have much shape - it's not for me.

In the spring I tend to fish darker flies with some yellow or even green. Looking in my boxes, black appears to be most popular colour. I only use plastic or aluminium tubes - never copper - and I tend to use various sinking line/tips rather than a big heavy tube.

I use tubes from 1/2" - 3" throughout the year with the bigger tubes used in the spring, then getting smaller through the summer and, finally, getting bigger again towards the late autumn.

I also use bottle tubes and coneheads a lot - in fact I use these on almost every outing.

Keep that orange tube until August - then reel the fish in...

[robmason]

They look great John, and it's good to see you've washed your hands too!

Speaking as a complete novice, is it easier to tie tubes?

[davewallbridge]

sloggi said:

I like the top one - it looks fishy. The bottom one doesn't seem to have much shape - it's not for me.

Just goes to show....... I much prefer the bottom one. In good streams/runs that will pulse and quiver and really look alive.

Although I might dress mine a little lighter, I would be more than happy to to fish that one any time.


So what's your next challenge .......... :-)


Dave.

[johnmac]

Thanks for the feedback gents! I'm delighted with both of them..... but the top one is my favourite! ;D .... i'm going back to the vice just now to heed your advice and try and tie up a few for the opening week!! i have no life..... well not this weekend anyway! ;D Im on call at work!

and having had a wee look at the size 14 trebles... i agree with Springer..... ooouch!!!

I shall post my new updated Spring version soon!

Many thanks, John.

[robmason]

graham said:

The top fly will be spot on for September/October.
During the spring my favourite colour is a gold body with a black and yellow wing on 1, 1/4 and 1 1/2 inch tubes, both aluminium and copper. Close second would be a gold body with a black, orange and yellow wing. Tie them like your top tube with the wing on top of the tube. I like the light colour as the underwing with the darker colour on top. As well as bucktail, tie some with an arctic fox wing they work very well if the fish are lying in the slower moving water during cold conditions in the spring.

Graham, if we gave you a challenge; to fish only orange flies in Spring, how do you think you would fare?

[johnmac]

how is this for a Spring alternative?? again tied on a one inch brass bottle tube.......will this be the one for that first cast on January the 15th?? ;D ;D

[johnmac]

I have to agree! the black and yellow looks like a very good combination! Well i think i shall give this fly a swim on opening day..... lets hope it doesn't drown! has any one else got a picture of a favourite Spring fly they can post? (for me to copy!! ;D)

And you are right Springer... fly tying does become very addictive! Last season i only has six flies.... now i've got probably 50+.... which will make selection even harder! Well at least they have all been as successful as each other last season..... not a fish between them!

[johnmac]

I sense a Del Monty moment...... "Mr Ritchie, he say YES!" ;D ;D Well thats more than good enough for me!!!!!

I think i'll tie up a few more with more mobile materials.... keep the options open!

Thanks! John.

[kelliefly]

black and yellow looks just dandy for the opening week.
If the water is clear try a gold bodied Willie gun, but watch out for the Kelt's.

[williegunn]

graham said:

robmason said:

Graham, if we gave you a challenge; to fish only orange flies in Spring, how do you think you would fare?

I am sure I would be almost as successful, but I like black and yellow in the spring and that confidence factor probably adds a few fish.

Rob send me the flies I will ensure Grahan fishes with them.

PS he likes size 16s or 14s in the spring tied sparce.

[salmonscotty16lb]

nice flys and I'm more than sure your first will fall too one of them ;D doing the first salmon and first on home tied flys in one go! graham i remember a article in t&s couple years back about a fly called a Neptune? silver body yellow under wing and black on top of Arctic fox? I'm sure it did the biz on the spey from what i remember any connection?

[salmonking]

Nice flies there John,i would be more than confident with those.
Here is one of my early patterns,a Willie gunn with pearl maylar
tied on cotton bud.

p.s how do you get close ups??

[johnmac]

Lovely looking fly Salmon King! I shall have to knock a few of those up!

As for close up's.... your camera has to have a Macro! Normally on digital cameras it has an icon like the outline of a flower..... but not all cameras have one!

Thanks for the comments.... and to Scotty as well!

[johnmac]

you can open your picture in paint once you have saved it and zoom in on it... you do however lose quality as you are stretching the pixels.... this is about the best you can get and then it goes very blurry!

[johnmac]

Out of interest..... i have a FUJI Fine Pix A345 which cost £50 from Tesco and has a macro! Its 4.1 mega pixels as well and does me just fine! They have just brought out a new version... so you might find the older one (mine) for even less cash! should you be in the market?

[salmonking]

Thanks guys...

[madkeen]

Well done lads your flies are bound to catch that springer