Mouse on a tube

[Marty]

I have been on a tube fly kick as of late. Here is a mouse pattern I have been tying for some local water. I also tie a version with rubber legs. I have not found one to be any better. Hooking a fish on a big fly like this on is difficult because of material blocking the gape. I kind of get the feeling this setup will be more affective, plus you can use a smaller hook (better on the fish). I can’t wait to get this one wet.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff35/martyoh/mouse.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff35/martyoh/wetmouse.jpg

[Nich]

Looks good and thats a great idea.

[chanceb]

Nice looking flies! Just curious, what are some of the advantages of tube flies vs traditional?

[Marty]

It may not look it but the body on this mouse pattern is a little over two inches. Tying on tube allows you to tie a big fly and use small hook. At different times of the year I will fish big streamers (4 to 6 inches long). The tube makes it possible to tie any length of fly with out the need for a stinger hook. Tying on tubes is also a lot of fun and if you do tie a lot of big stuff it is very cost effective.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff35/martyoh/031.jpg

This is a marabou streamer that works well all year. It is over three inches and I use a size 10 scud hook

[cheech]

It may not look it but the body on this mouse pattern is a little over two inches. Tying on tube allows you to tie a big fly and use small hook. At different times of the year I will fish big streamers (4 to 6 inches long). The tube makes it possible to tie any length of fly with out the need for a stinger hook. Tying on tubes is also a lot of fun and if you do tie a lot of big stuff it is very cost effective.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff35/martyoh/031.jpg

This is a marabou streamer that works well all year. It is over three inches and I use a size 10 scud hook

pretty wicked... Did you color the marabou yourself?

[Marty]

Brown and green sharpie as the last step

[cheech]

Brown and green sharpie as the last step

That makes the fly. Great work. I have done that, but I ended up bleeding colors too much.

[Baiter]

Marty,

Very nice flies, I have not played with a tubes for a long time.

One suggestion I have is on the mouse pattern, when tying "Gurgler" style with Foam I add a piece of 10-15lb maxima in a horseshoe shape on top of the foam lip, I leave the ends of the horseshoe protruding out of the thread where you tie off the front of the foam. I secure it with a dab of Zap a gap on the thread.

This makes the fly last a lot longer as I have found the foam will weaken over time become too flappy. It then becomes difficult or impossible to tune the fly to get the right gurgle or spitting effect when you strip it. This bit of mono stiffens it up enough to prevent this but still lets me tune it. I have caught over 100 smallies on a single fly using this method.

Thanks for sharing your patterns with us.

Dan