light weight tube v dressed hook

[charlieh]

For me it comes down less to the style of dressing and more to the functionality - the ability to hook and then to hold on to a fish. I'd also mention that, whether with tubes or conventional flies, I almost always use doubles these days.

In general I prefer regular hooks to tubes, but I believe that in larger sizes there can be a problem with the hook hold working loose as a result of leverage. For this reason, I rarely use a hook larger than a double #6 low water or 4 standard shank.

Going the other way, I don't normally use regular tubes smaller than 3/4", because with doubles (Partridge BMD, Loop tube double or the like) I feel that the hooks that balance them are getting a bit small. So I'd generally use regular double hooks up to a low water 6, and if I wanted to go larger than that I'd switch to a 1" tube.

The main exception to this is the small bottle tubes - these seem to look OK with a slightly larger hook than a conventional tube, probably because I use them either for Templedog-style patterns or pot-bellied pigs. A small BMD hook still looks OK with them.

[macd]

i agree for the most part.

I dont use a dressed fly bigger than a 6. But i still use wee plastic tubes down to 1/4" with small trebles. I appreciate the point about doubles and use them on my dressed flies. But a small tube treble will hold fast- of course depends on what you consider functionality to be.

[charlieh]

I completely agree about the hooking and holding ability of small trebles. In fact, the fact that they hold so well is the reason I don't use them!

Since these days I return most of the salmon I land (which isn't very many), except when I'm confident that the river has a surplus, I want to be able to unhook them as quickly as possible. I find that these little trebles often sink in right to the bend in a fleshy part of the mouth, and can be very difficult indeed to extract. I suppose I could simply cut the cast and leave the hook in the fish, but I'd much rather be able to get it out.

If I found myself on a river with good numbers of fresh grilse around I might use a little treble, as I wouldn't feel too much compunction about killing a fish or two, but sadly I haven't been in that fortunate position recently!

I do still carry some really tiny flies, tied on size 16 and 18 silver trebles. When you need to go this small, I don't know of anything else that will do the job. I'd use them with mini tubes, too. But apart from those, if I want a small fly I go down to a size 16 Wilson double, and that is small enough most of the time.

[macsalmo]

Steve, I prefer lighter tubes (for hooking power).
I think any treble or double over size 8 seems to big a gape for a good hook hold.
To make the tube fish on an even keel, stick on a conehead

Gary

[kenziemac]

Hello all,
I tend to agree with Gary ref the coneheads. If you are fortunate enough to be able to tie your own, you can vary the size of the cone / bullet to suit.
I rarely however fish with anything larger than an 8 loop double with tubes even 2 to 3 inches long. I cannot say that the small size has been any sort of handicap to me.
On a small, say 3/4 inch aluminium slipstream tube, I normally have a no. 12 loop double and a small cone.
I think that if you are fortunate enough to have time to experiment, great. If not, then stick with what you have confidence in.
Steve, I am happy to send one of my favourites for you to try if you wish.
Kenzie Mac