tube tube's and and hooks

[tbar24]

i was just wondering what you guys use for the plastic/copper tubes? for the plastic do you cut your own or do u by the pre cut and melted ones?
what are your hook preferences?

[SalaR]

Hi Tbar
there are many ways to build tube flies...guys,in particular are know to be very cheap and try to re-invent the wheel..the usual result is just adequate.
However,some very serious fly fisher have created some very impressive systems to tie tube flies. Most are in combination with plastic tubes slid inside larger plastic tube able to be weighted with tube bodies of some sort.HMH has basically a plastic sleeve inside a copper or aluminum tube section.,and melt the ends to keep them from sliding out...others are more ingenious...
If you can't afford weighted bodies (these can be expensive) find a small tube that will slid inside a slightly larger tube and weight the body with wraps of lead or wire...dumbell eyes or something else. Note,if you find the smaller tube that does fit inside the other tube you might be able to slip a Cone Head over the smaller tube and melt the end...
Go to Eumer.com for pictures of this
If you don't want to weight your fly then just the plastic tube will do...the biggest issue is holding the sleeve so it doesn't spin during the wrapping of the thread and materials...Personally I have found the Snowbee Universal tube fly adapter to be the most ingenious and adaptable..as shown
Have fun
C
One picture shows a short tube about to be melted..excellent idea and really works well