Micro Tubing

[Jason B]

I have been tying a midge with a small glass bead with a under body of thread with micro tubing over the thread.
Has anyone else tried this pattern or with tying with micro tubing?

[Jeff Camomile]

I have used micro tubing for midges for the past year or so. I think they work great, and if you can still keep the profile thin, they are a great imitation. I don't like to use them much smaller than size 22 however, since the body is too thick then.

[steeliesonafly]

Jason,
I use it for tying realistic flies in a lot of patterns, small midges with a threat underbody or very light dubbing give it real good color and makes for a lot better more real fly. Midges and pupa of different types look alot better. But like mentioned above you have to get the correct tubing to achieve the best look for the size you are tying. Micro tubing, or even stretch floss works good too!

[Jason]

Are you guys talking about vinyl rib material that you slip over the hook and then rib it with thread or wire?

I'm not personally sold on these flies yet. I've tied and fished a few but didn't do well with them. I ended up going back to my go to black zebra midge and began catching fish. I haven't tried them since.

[steeliesonafly]

Jason,
I will have to tie you a few up and then let you try them. The still I tie might change your mind! I don't slip mine over the hook and rib, but use the micro, and put a small amount of dubbing under or just the color thread that will highlight the inside, and use a clear micro-tubing as ribbing with a black or brown head. Looks very good and really catches fish. Also use the super floss and build up a body. some of these are excellent. Send me your address and I will send you some!

steeliesonafly@softcom.net

[Jason B]

Vinyl is thinker and not as bendable. Micro tubing is smaller and more easier to work with, As steelie said, i have been wraping an underbody of thread then wraping it with micro tubing. Its really good stuff.

[Ouzel]

Another item that makes nice segmented bodies is "Spanflex". It comes in a several colors and sizes. It can be stretched to look natural on #24's.
Sorry I don't do windows or #26's.
Streching it makes it more translucent and subject to different color shades accordinding to the color of thread underneath.
Cool stuff.

[steeliesonafly]

Jason,
Got you address and will send you off some of these flies. I tied these with the clear micro-tubing, but you can do the same with the colored. I just like the effect of the clear over the colored. Also will put in one of the super floss. I tye these but don't use them as much because the superfloss has a tendency when you catch a fish, the superfloss will come unraveled if you don't rib it...... Let me know when you get them. You get a chance send me some of your favorites for the Provo!

[Jeff Camomile]

Once again, micro tubing is great stuff (and so is Spanflex). They are my best producing midge nymphs. I also like to do combinations of colors with them. For example, sometimes I tie with white thread and then use colored micro tubing. This gives a very realistic color to the nymph, since many of the naturals I see aren't really an exact color - they are rarely pure red, pure green, pure olive, etc. The naturals seem to be an "off" color, or lesser color; for example, a "soft" olive natural color that white thread with olive micro tubing imitates exactly. It is hard to describe what I am talking about. Maybe the color doesn't matter that much, but the shiny effect of micro tubing does make a difference, IMO. Just try some micro tubing and experiment. Its fun stuff.

[shazerblaze]

I hear the spanflex is good. My friend ties with that stuff. I need to get some and try it out. I personally tie with the clear micro ribbing. One of my favorite midges uses rootbeer krystal flash wrapped very thinly over the hook. Next, some clear ribbing and there you go. I have always had good luck with that midge pattern. It's simple.