Any of you guy's use tube fly's for Steelhead?

A lot of folks do use tube fly's, and with some success. I used to use them a lot ... until I 'discovered' "Waddington shanks;" far easier to tie on and come in lengths from 1/2 inch to about 3 inches long.

OK I am new to this what is Waddington shanks ?? Thanks in advance

Copper tubes from HMH are good. Easy to tie also. Don't know about the Waddingtons though.

FL

Waddingtons Shanks

There like a long shank hook without the hook.

Here a link so you can see what they look like:

http://www.fly-fishing-tackle.co.uk/acatalog/Waddington_Shanks.html

Tube Flies; A Tying, Fishing & Historical Guide, by Mark Mandell and Les Johnson, which had been allowed to go out of print, is now again available from Amato Publications. $29.95 for the paperback. Originally published in 1995, this was the first book totally devoted to all aspects of the tube fly.

I've used them with baitfish patterns for SRCs. I like it because I can have a 1-2 1/2" fly with a size 10 or 12 hook, much better for the fish.

Well I actually have a couple of waddington shank flys I got in a fly swap, never used them though yet.

The shanks don't look as heavy as the copper tubes but I guess you can wait them with lead wire if you want ?

Yes I like the smaller hooks you can use on tubes with the big fly, better fish holding power less leverage for the fish to work with and lose you.

FL

hey fishingjunky looks like the green demon struck again, nice fish and even better avatar, they can see that fly from a mile away

FL

You got it!

Rockfish: Ya, I use that fly when I don't see anything around that the fish are feeding on. Makes a great searching pattern. I've caught SRCs and resident silvers on it so far. Great fly.

Vis a vis the Waddington Shanks, some folks do a 'home grown' job with these and will use 'cotter keys.' Only 'trick' is you HAVE TO bend the eye of the cotter key upwards to 'protect' you leader material.

And as someone suggested above, you can weight the heck out of these if you so choose (like using them off a dry line)

Thanks for the info... I made some tube fly's and now I will see if the fish like them?