Testing A Tube Fly

Area - LK

Wade/Float - Wade

Water Level - 3.29fy. @ Fairdale

Water Temp - 64+

Clarity - Stained. 6 - 8 inches

Fly/Spin - Fly

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Wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get out at all.

The area received some rain over the last week and the streams are running a bit high. I had really hoped to be able to wade different sections of the Kish at this point, but with the high flow I kind of have to stick to a tributary in the LK section.

Anyway, I have been playing around at the vice trying to develop a fly that would be as effective as traditional gear tube bait. The pic to the left is only one of many versions. I am using a 1/16 oz bullet weight on all versions, and I must say that I was surprised at the distance I could cast the big heavy fly.

I believe I need to focus on the tail end of the fly and getting whatever material I use to work in the manner that I would like it to work. This was the second outing in which I have tested a version of the tube fly. I'm getting closer but still have a ways to go. The fishing was tough on this day and I ended up scrapping the tube fly test and tied on a Clouser Minnow.

The outing started off with a Blockhead Popper tied on. The popper drew no action. At this point I tied on the tube fly and dedicated a big chunk of the outing to research and development. A cold front had moved into the area over night and the air temps had plummeted a good 10 to 15 degrees. I will admit that I was a bit chilled on this wet wade outing.

After spending some R&D time with the tube fly prototype, I then had to focus on evading the skunk, so I tied on a Closer Minnow. It didn't take long before I was bringing a smallmouth to hand. "Dumb Luck" is a friend of mine, and I pulled that smallie in with the hook buried into it's side. At first I thought the smallmouth tangled itself in my leader, but upon arrival to my hand, I could see that it was side hooked. How I got it in through a fairly strong current flow? Dumb Luck.

Skunk avoided......