SQUIRRELLY TUBE FLIES
[A simple pattern that is effective On Still-waters, Tailwaters & Spring Creeks]
When I was a boy growing up, the very first game animal I hunted was Squirrels. The woods were full of the big Red Fox Squirrels. Not only were they great sport for a growing lad, they were also very tasty to eat, and on top of that they were a source of fly tying material.
Besides the Red Fox Squirrels, which were pursued in the forests of Oak, Beech and Maple, the northern pine forest had an abundant population of the smaller Pine Squirrels.
The pine squirrel wasn’t as tasty, but ok in stew. However, the skins were just as useful to a young fly tier. Oh, the stories, I could relate about those early days of fly tying and my first experiment with dying natural skins. But, that is for another time.
Today Pine Squirrel Skins are readily available from many different suppliers and beside the natural color, they come in many different dyed colors. This material can be used as dubbing, creating mini zonker type strips for streamers. It can also be used in collars.
Several years ago, I started playing with various types of tube flies, as with many of my personal patterns, I prefer patterns that are simple, easy and quick to tie and of course they are effective. The Squirrelly Tube Flies certainly qualifies on all points. I have used them in still-water situations, on spring creeks and on some of the finest tail-water fisheries in the west. I have also used them in the saltwater, and on the bass and bluegill ponds in the South. Are they a secret killer pattern? NO. They are however, a pattern that has proven its worth many times over, during countless angling situations.
Do they look like any specific food form? NO. However, they do offer that illusion of life that is so important to an effective imitation. They could be taken for any number of food forms. The types of lines and leaders used would depend upon the angling situation encountered. Now, let us move on the patterns, pictures and fly tying notes.
Tying Notes: You do not need to run out and by a Special Vise to tie tube flies. All you really need is a selection of eyed sewing needles of various diameters.
The fly is tied on the tube, which is soft plastic; the hook is selected to fit into the end of the tube. (As pictured) A tube without a hook is rather pointless, unless you are fishing for Gar and that is another story for another time.
There many different color combinations which may be used, I am going to give you the recipes for the four colors that I use the most. Remember, the whole idea of these patterns is that they are simple. Oh, by the way they are also very effective. Yes, these patterns could be tied on streamer hooks, as for the hooks, you might use? That you will have to figure out on your own, as this is about Tube Flies. Most of the tubing I use for these patterns can be found in Craft Stores. There is no shortage of various size soft tubing. My personal favorite is Scoobie Lace Tubing. It comes in a large pack of three foot lengths and lots of different colors, including clear.
Black Squirrelly Tube Fly
- Tube: Clear, 3/32 Diameter
- Thread: Black 6/0
- Hook: Dai-Riki 155 Size: 8 or 10
- Tail: Short length of Dyed Black Pine Squirrel Strip
- Body: Length of Black Pine Squirrel Strip, wrapped
- Eyes: Red 3-D, Epoxy
Total length of Imitation: 1 to 2 inches
Chartreuse Squirrelly Tube Fly
- Tube: Clear, 3/32 Diameter
- Thread: Olive 6/0
- Hook: Dai-Riki 155 Size: 8 or 10
- Total length of Imitation: 1 to 2 inches
- Tail: Short length of Chartreuse Pine Squirrel Strip
- Body: Chartreuse Pine Squirrel Strip, wrapped
- Eyes: Chartreuse with Black Centers, 3-D, Epoxy
Rusty Brown Squirrelly Tube Fly
- Tube: Clear, 3/32 Diameter
- Thread: Dark Brown 6/0
- Hook: Dai-Riki 155 Size: 8 or 10
- Tail: Short length of Rusty Brown Pine Squirrel Strip
- Body: Rusty Brown Pine Squirrel Strip, wrapped
- Eyes: Pearl with Black Centers, 3-D, Epoxy
Olive/Brown Squirrelly Tube Fly
- Tube: Clear, 3/32 Diameter
- Thread: Olive Dun 6/0
- Hook: Dai-Riki 155 Size: 8 or 10
- Tail: Short length of Olive/Brown Pine Squirrel Strip
- Body: Olive/Brown Pine Squirrel Strip, wrapped
- Eyes: Yellow with Black Centers, 3-D, Epoxy
Additional Notes: At times I will add a strip or two of Krystal Flash as topping. The eyes are important to the effectiveness of these patterns. At first, I tied and fished them without the eyes.
However, I have found that the eyes make them more effective and besides that, the eyes make them cute! Everyone knows that cute flies are more effective!!
Very Important Fly Tying Note: As pictured tube, flies can be tied on soft plastic tube that can be obtained in Fly Tying Shops, Craft Stores, Kid’s Toy Stores and Medical Supply Shops. Various types of Oxygen tubing work quite well however, I don’t want to hear stories of raids on Hospitals or that Grandpa lost is oxygen tubing to some wild and errant fly tier.
Note it is very important when tying soft tube flies that you lubricate the needle with drop or of reel oil (as pictured) or WD40. If you fail to do this you will have hard if not impossible task of removing the finished tube from the needle. Always lubricate the needle holding tube when tying soft tube flies. On more rigid tubes, such Plastic Q Tip Tubes this would not be necessary. The needle that is pictured can be found in a number of different sizes at any Sewing Shop, Wal-Mart and many Super Markets.
I have used these patterns in still-waters, using them both as the only imitation being fished and as a trailer.
I have used them with floating lines; sink tips, uniform sinking lines and clear slow sink lines. The choice of lines depends on the angling situation encountered. I have also used these patterns on the Spring Creeks of Paradise Valley and the Tailwaters of the Missouri and Big Horn River and they have been effective.
Why, one of the largest whitefish, I have ever caught on the Big Horn, came on one of these Squirrelly Tubes. I also might add that they are effective on Carp.
Enjoy & Good Fishin’
From the Desk of the
Wandering Fly Tyer