I tie tube flies; I found an answer to a problem
vexing me for a long time. In creating a tube fly,
the fly is constructed on a small diameter metal tube
with a plastic inner tube. The hook's eye for the fly
either had to fit inside the tube (making the body too
bulky), or plastic tubing had to affixed to the rear of
the metal tube (detracting from the fly's looks). Neither
of these solutions, I found desirable. Then came the
connection problem, of connecting the tippet thru the
tube fly tying it onto the hook (I prefer that knots
be in front of the fly, not at the rear where there
could be friction difficulties). While looking up other
things, I found something on the Internet that solves my
problem. The article was on an site dedicated to a magazine
no long in publication called
The Salmon Flyer.
The article I found was in Volume 11, Winter Issue, written
by Marvin Nolte, titled "Monofilament as a Gut Substitute."
In Mr. Nolte's article he mentioned a method discussed by
Poul Jorgensen for making mono gut eyes (also used on
blind eye hooks for Atlantic Salmon flies).
"Another method that was in the November 1981 Fly Tyer
Magazine for heating the monofilament was discussed by
Poul Jorgensen. Poul recommended using boiling water to
set the twist. Pour some water into two saucepans. To one
pan add a few ice cubes and the other bring to a boil. Dip
the twisted monofilament into the boiling water for about
ten seconds then quickly take it out of the boiling water
and dip it into the ice water. According to Poul, it should
stay twisted." ~Marvin Nolte
I have found this system works wonderfully on tube fly hooks.
The following is my method of constructing a mono gut loop.
I cut a length of mono tippet material, using something stout
(0X perhaps). I secure the tag ends using a
Surgeon's Knot.
Using two Hemostats, I connect the loop end thru one and
a secure the tag ends with the other.
Holding the mono line with the Hemostat which is connected
to the loop, I spin the other Hemostat, causing the doubled
mono line to twist.
Holding the two Hemostat's with the mono gut taunt between,
I then do the heating and cooling as stated by Poul Jorgensen.
This method really works, and no kitchen utensils were hurt,
in the writing of this article. ~ Steven H. McGarthwaite
Please check out the Fly Tying Section, on the Bulletin Board, here at FAOL too.
If you have any questions, tips, or techniques; send them to
publisher@flyanglersonline.com
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