Featured Fly - The Funny Bunny Tube

It’s been a long time since I've done a featured fly post. I could make a bunch of excuses about my computer and not having time, but I won’t. I don't have any video editing software on my computer right now, so tutorials are what you are going to get.

This tutorial was inspired by my latest trip to Erie PA with my two buddies Jack and Rob, trip photos to come in the next post. We had two amazing days of fishing nymphs and eggs, however day three was a different story. The water came down significantly and cleared up, and they weren't having it. So, after a morning of only getting a few fish to eat, I remembered a conversation I had with my buddy, he was telling me about how he and his clients did well with streamers a few days before. As the wintery mix of snow and rain was pelting us, I grabbed this little bunny leech and tied it on. I had fish eat on the swing, the strip, and even the total dead drift. There were leaves in the water, so I stuck with flies that were predominately white with accent colors of pinks and oranges. Tired olive and brown, but they weren’t interested.

Short story, but let’s get down to the good stuff.

Materials:

Tube: HMH Tube sz. Small - Clear 

Thread: Danville 140 - Fl. Pink 

Flash: Krystal Flash - Pearl 

Tail/Body: Black Barred Groovy Bunny - Fl. Pink / Orange / White 

Underbody: UV Polar Chenille sz. Med - Pearl 

Collar: Black Barred Groovy Bunny - Fl. Pink / Orange / White 

Legs: Round Rubber Legs sz. Med - Fl. Pink 

Head: Brass Conehead - Pro Tube Fly / HMH

Step 1: Leave a little space at the rear of the tube, making a small thread base.

Step 2: Tie in 4-6 strands of pearl krystal flash. The length should not me more than an inch long. 

Step 3: Tie in the bunny strip, it should extend about a third past the krystal flash.

Step 4: Tie in and palmer the uv polar chenille forward. Leave about a 1/4" of tube open.

Step 5: Pull the rabbit zonker forward and tie off.

Step 6: Make one wrap of the zonker around the tube creating a collar.

Step 7: "V" tie in rubber legs on each side. They should extend just past the tips of the rabbit.

Step 8: Slide the cone over the tube and secure with a dab of superglue. Then burn tubing down to the cone head.

Step 9: Cut a small piece of junction tubbing on the back and slid the hook in.

Finished Fly: The Funny Bunny

Tube Flies - Advantage

Well my fishing has been on hold for a couple weeks now, high water around the great lakes has kept me home this last weekend. Besides a half day on the Salmon River, hooking 2 fish and landing 0, and a local trout trip to Valley creek, I have spent most of my time the past 2 weeks at the vise. For the past 3 or so years, I've become very fond of tube flies, from steelhead to trout, I think they give you a huge advantage. I was surfing the web checking out new patterns, and new technology for this form of fly tying, when I came across this little write up from HMH Vises. These guys make some awesome tools for tubes, and have some great styles of tubes, simple and easy to use. So if you have been thinking about getting into tube flies, check out this list of advantages from HMH, then stop by the shop and we can get you all set up. Or just check the back blog for some tubes Ive tied up.

Tube Flies have real advantages over conventional flies:

·       Pattern size and style aren’t dependent on hook size or style.

·       Hook can be placed further back in the pattern resulting in more hook ups.

·       Many tube choices - including weight, color, size, shape and length options.

·       Less hook leverage with shorter shank tube hook when fighting fish resulting in more landed fish.

·       Fly slides up leader and away from sharp teeth during fight.

·       If hook breaks or dulls simply replace it.

·       Many hook choices including treble, double and single.

·       Change easily from barbed or barbless.

·       Can use non stainless hooks in saltwater.

·       Incorporate cones and beads to add and adjust weight of flies.

·       Tie convertible flies – mix and match tailing material.

Great Lakes Steelhead that feel to a Leech Tube Fly

Variation of a classic, Green Butt Bunny Skunk

Tube Fly Sculpin Pattern