Its that time of the year

[mrmike]

Just had a friend recommend a good Metal Polish called MOTHERS been sitting and polishing numerous wobblers/Flashers in preparation of the up coming season they really cleaned up excellent. I had some personnel issues with these rubber Hooches, and felt I could do a lot better job. Two years ago I started to do some research and sat down at my fly tying station and designed what I call Magic Mikes Kokanee and trout teasers using numerous colors. The color variations are endless. I've been using Crystal flash along with glow in the dark versions and made what I call tube teasers/ I have made over a hundred patterns. These Fly fisherman are so advanced and one can learn a lot from there experience. I used my kokanee experience and last year I fished these Magic Mikes and never used a Hoochie on one of my fishing poles. The results were excellent. I've been super tuning them and added a small color pattern that glow on the trailer hook. and added Mack Lure spinners to the nose. The results were even better. These custom tubes take some time to complete but I found out it was very nice to catch fish on something one designed and I kind of enjoy the satisfaction. I will take some photos and will forward shortley

[dragonfly]

sounds like you have found the right combination look forward to the pictures. is this something you are going to sell on the side? I too have gone away from the hoochies except for the mini black hood and chartreuse skirt ones and went with spinners and different color combinations of beads especially with a glow bead in front of the stinger hook seamed to be the ticket this year when fishing below 40'. right now I use the all ready tied ones from "kokanee creek tackle' I can tie my own but I use there dodgers and there quality and service is great and I don't mind supporting small business guys. dfly

[SuperD]

I guess I should post my address as I'm not getting any of you guys care packages. ;-)

[downriggeral]

Hey SuperD I've got some fresh smoked salmon and trout just out of the smoker......what kind of care package you need?

[mrmike]

working on them photos /will have to retry with another camera this evening

[SuperD]

Very nice looking stuff Mike!

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4025/8p8b.jpg

[dragonfly]

looks good mike thumbsup , like the sickle hooks. I have some spin & glo's with a pink fly on the stinger hook a lot like the bottom one in your picture that works really well at greenpeter. dfly

[chukardave1]

Definitely look fishy for sure101props101

[SuperD]

Some porn:

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/3803/jb82.jpg

[SuperDaveMT]

So what do you guys use for the tube? Something commercial, a stir straw, ? Have you tried any of the rubber leg material in addition to the crystal flash?

[SuperD]

Mike,
Are you using a hook spacer to get the hooks to the back of the bug?

[SuperD]

Okay, they say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. Here's my twisted attempt.

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/9126/f83n.jpg

[mrmike]

I'm impressed "nicely done". I thought I smelled something burning you over loading your thinking process your on your way (no more hoochies for this guy). Do you have any idea how many color patterns there are with crystal flash. You can run them with out a spinner they work very well Last year I did use the smiley blades. glow in the dark worked well also

[SuperD]

I put a couple of small glow beads on the inside. I also did a bunch of searching today for tinsel inserts and bought a ton of colors/combinations.

[mrmike]

I'm impressed "nicely done". I thought I smelled something burning you over loading your thinking process your on your way (no more hoochies for this guy). Do you have any idea how many color patterns there are with crystal flash. You can run them with out a spinner they work very well Last year I did use the smiley blades. glow in the dark worked well also

[wrightwyoming]

I'm impressed "nicely done". I thought I smelled something burning you over loading your thinking process your on your way (no more hoochies for this guy). Do you have any idea how many color patterns there are with crystal flash. You can run them with out a spinner they work very well Last year I did use the smiley blades. glow in the dark worked well also

I have been using trolling flies on Flaming Gorge for about the last 5 years. Once you get the concept you will never fish squids again. I started making squid inserts in the beginning and progressed to flies.I custom tie for a few fisherman who were willing to try something new. The Great Lakes have been using trolling flies along with fisherman in Alaska. My flies work well behind dodgers and flashers along with the new ultra light dodgers. Because they are custom and labor intensive I don't think that they will be made in China anytime soon. So when fishing slows down switch to a fly.They work well on all that swims in the Gorge. Trout really like them along with Lake trout and burbout.

[SuperD]

wrightwyoming, let's see what you got!

[wrightwyoming]

I have no luck posting pictures! I try but they never make it to the site.

[SuperD]

I have no luck posting pictures! I try but they never make it to the site.
You and mrmike. LOL! I'm sending you a PM.

[SuperD]

WW's koke flies:

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/6061/1lz.jpeg

[mrmike]

wrightwyoming I stated earlier to are folks on the forum we can learn a lot from the Fly tying fisherman and ladies , with I would call experts, in my research I found nothing targeting kokanee except a hoochies. I like your patterns nicely done. With the way we fish for kokanee I felt a fly isn't the way to go for kokanee we needed a double hook set up and that was have to be a tube so I made and designed one and named them Magic Mike's the kokanee love them. This year I super tune them after two years doing field research / thanks for sharing.

[SuperD]

Mike, what is "super tuning"?

[mrmike]

don't mess with my head/ making the tubes better! Sir. I started to play with the trailing hook. I added the smiley blades if you noticed a placed a small bearing bead behind the smiley blade so they would spin better at first I didn't like the way they turned by adding the bearing bead I had/got a lot a better performance. I have a good friend that promotes Macks lure stuff he introduced me to the smiley blades there was so many color combinations so I ran with it, glad I did.

[SuperD]

I liked the bearing bead when I saw it. I'm thinking that if that bead acts like a weighted head on a fly, the thing would drop/flutter in turns or when you reduce speed.

[mrmike]

Them there bearing beads really have no weight at all/about the same as a little plastic bead. your spinner adds enough weight as much as you need if you aren't using the smiley blade. If you notice I did add attached heads to my Magic Mike's teasers with I acquired at the fly shop there were numerous types to choose from. I am try them all. You keep up the good work. You would have no idea what I did a few years ago to attached them beads to the nose of my teasers it was quite a process then I found a fly shop that cared those nose pieces .

[wrightwyoming]

Just a update on my trolling flies. If you look close you will see they are indeed a tube fly. The fisherman that use my fly in the Great Lakes and Alaska replace the double hooks and replace them with a treble hook. They also use a longer leader behind a large flasher. Last year fisherman in Alaska were using a large spoon with my fly and casting it into the rivers to catch salmon. I prefer a single hook in the fly because of catch and release.

[mrmike]

wrightwyoming nicely done since I was targeting kokanee just did some things different, but I did notice they were tube's and very nicely done may I add. Tube fly have been around for a very long time because one can change up your set up of hooks for the type of fishing one does vs a single hook as in a fly imitation. kokanee being a newer fishery for us or getting more popular lets say, a lot of us been chasing kokes a long time I'm just in love with Oregon's High Lakes. I wasn't that impressed what they (being tackle company's) I decided to go make my own. These tubes are trolled behind a wobbler with give them there action with a short leader very deadly. I wasn't that impressed with just a rubber skirt called a hoochy The number of patterns are endless that the fun part finding them and super tuning I know they will out fish anything on are market today. I anchored up last year fishing for steelhead on the Columbia River using a similar set up double hook attached with a coontail shrimp and a tube fly we put two steelhead in the boat and 5 Chinook in one outing the Chinook had to be returned as the river was closed for retention at that time and both steelhead were natives that we had to release under the regulation all and all a great day tight lines

[SuperD]

Got some more materials in the mail today so adding a couple more colors, more to come.

http://imageshack.us/a/img4/1116/1sdw.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img17/4425/30q5.jpg

[mrmike]

there goes all that Christmas money to the fly shop/a good fly fishing shop will carry just about everything and then some. your on your way.

[the force]

Ohhh yeahh, gotta bring this thread back to life! WW, what are you using for eye's? They look like a little more than just the stickers? Can I ask what your guy's favorite lengths are- 1.5" or have you had luck with micro's down to half an inch?
MrMike, do you still tie patterns on your trailer hook? Do you find it makes much difference, or do you find you are better off making adjustments on the front end with spinners and beads?

I was trying to stay away from getting into tubes, but after reading this thread I might need to expand my arsenal.

Thanks for sharing the idea's! You have got me all pumped up!!

[wrightwyoming]

I AM A CUSTUM FLY MAKER WITH TONS OF MONEY INVESTED IN TUBE FLIES. MY FLIES ARE TRUELY CUSTUM MADE TO THE EXACT SPECS OF THE FISHERMAN. EACH ONE IS TRULY DIFFERENT TO TARGET A CERTAIN WATER COLOR AND BAIT FISH NATIVE TO THE WATERS WHERE YOU FISH. THEY HAVE SCENT, UV, GLOW, AND GREAT COLORS AND MOVEMENT THAT CAN NOT BE COPIED WITH A SQUID. MY FLIES ARE DESIGNED TO CATCH FISH NOT FISHERMAN. I DO NOT SELL ON THE WEB OR IN TACKLE STORES, BUT BY WORD OF MOUTH.

[oneanddone]

is this randy?

[wrightwyoming]

Yes, Curtis this is Randy. We are working hard over the winter developing trolling flies for the walleye fisherman. We have developed a system for them that beats live bait. I will keep you posted

[downriggeral]

Hi Randy,

I'm interested in the flies you do. Can You PM me?
Thanks, Alan

[mrmike]

The Force Sorry to say its Tube Time!! be with the new generation of Kok Heads. I've gone to the Micro size with I consider 1 1/2 inch size nothing smaller/nothing larger been working extremely well for me. The pattern's on the trailer hook I just started tying up this winter haven't field tested them yet ? I think they will be a big factor Its is time expand your arensal hooches are old school.

[the force]

Ohhh dang it, this is a bad disease! Thanks for the tips MrMike, much appreciated. I do like some of my own trial and error but a few tips up front can save a guy a ton of time and $$. It looks like it will be pretty straight forward to get into actually, going to stop by the local shop tonight and see what they have. I was considering the Pro tube flexi- needle system, and likely just classic small tube. There is a pile of other options (nano, micro tubes, different materials and weighting systems) though I don’t think anything special will be required for this application. Although, maybe I’ll tie up some bucktail type tubes for the trout while I’m at it…and then…and then…. hahaha

This has got me thinking now, do these imitate some type of baitfish or what is the objective here? Or do you just need to get anything down there that is an inch and a half with good action and color to annoy the fish!? The million dollar question I suppose, but what drives kokanee?

[mrmike]

Its trial and error You have see the photos in the tread to start out with I found 1 1/2 inch tube seem's to do more damage to the kokanee population, big didn't fish as well in the two lakes I pretty much am an inhabitant of Wickiup and Odell. I hadn't fished Odell in about 3 yrs until I made a visit last year for the kokanee tournament the fish had been a lot smaller. Wicikup fish were a lot bigger. I was happy with the quality at Odeal .I won't fish Odeal till around July when The waters warm at Wicikup and I will head over to a deeper lake with is a lot cooler/Odeal always been a very good lake for fisherman that liked to Jig early in the season when the fish are schooled. Let the force be with you.

[doublehaul]

Hello All. New to the forum and new to kokanee fishing over the past two years. Have been trying to find a way to enjoy time on the water while not leaving the family. Two young kids and kokanee fishing seems to be a fairly easy way to get them into fish. Well, can't say it has been yet, but hoping so. I fish in southwestern Idaho. Avid flyfisherman also, and love to tie so this thread has intrigued me. I presume you all are running these trolling flies behind dodgers?? Anxious to tie up some of my own now and will post if I can figure it out.

[mrmike]

check out some of the earlier post some of us been playing with tube teasers in place of hoochees being avid fly tyer be right in your ball park

[SuperD]

Has anyone tied these up in a size big enough for ocean salmon? Season starts here in a couple of weeks and plan on trying some trolling flies in the salt this year.

[wrightwyoming]

Yes I have tied the Alaska version and the Great Lakes version with good results. Last fall I sent out a few to Oregon and they produced coho salmon. I also sent a few to Alaska to fish on the rivers behind spoons. They reported good results. The Great Lakes fisherman have been using flies for years and have replaced their squids for flies. Dream Weaver, Atomic flies Howie flies, Horse Flies all have web sites if you want to see what they fish. They call them meatless rigs. I use something similar for lake trout with good results at Flaming Gorge and Fort Peck.
Best of Luck

[mrmike]

O'h ya babe been super tuning some for Springer to pull with my troll herring/haven't had a chance to fish them yet. SHHHH it s secret.

[mrmike]

Wrightwyoming Went on the net and looked up those flies you mention just bigger stuff Atomic flies/Howie flies just large tube flies them meatless rigs they are quite expense/thanks for the imput actually they are behind dodgers kokanee or chinook same family. I don't think they would work in the Pacific NW we can use meat on are hooks. thanks again

[the force]

Okay, it has been a while though I figured I better give you guys an update. Being the cheap bugger that I am, I decided against buying a tube fly set-up. Instead I used a few plastic Q-tips and found an appropriately sized allan key to fit the ID of the tube and straight into my vice. Cut Q-tip tube to length, melt the end a bit to flare it out, tie the fly, and melt and flare the opposite end to finish. Anyway, it was cheap and easy and gives me a handful to try for the summer. Wish me luck.
71497150

[wrightwyoming]

Good luck! If you are interested I sell my trolling flies for $5 unrigged or $6 with hooks and scent system,