Eumer Tube flies

A couple of weeks back I visited Eumer pro accessories down in Merikarvia about coming on board as part sponsors with an event I’m putting together for next year spring. Which I am glad to say, they jumped at the prospect of being involved in. Anyway Jaako & Olli over the last few years have seen the gradual rise in popularity in pike fly-fishing not only in Europe but closer to home here in Finland & have asked me to join their “Pro Staff Team” giving me carte blanche in developing a specific range of pike tube fly accessories for Eumer.

Tube flies aren’t new by any stretch of the imagination, especially with the Blueliner (Hollywood) Trout & Salmon brigade, but for us Snotrocketliners its not something that is widely used and yet is something which has fantastic possibilities for development. I’ve already seen the great potential they have in improving hook ups in poppers and other surface lures as well as deep trawling flies, but it’s the mid water table area I’m looking at being able to develop their products further.

So over the next few months I’m going to be delving into the pros & cons of using tube fly products with several easy to tie pike tube fly tutorials, as well as go through & review some of the best tying materials available here in Finland for using on tube flies.

Just to show you what can be done with Tube flies all these flies on this post I tied up this weekend.

Click image for larger view

Wiggle baitfish

Click the link to visit Ulf Hagströms blog for a wonderful tutorial on tying "Wiggle baitfish".

Novelty lures

"The Booby Lure"
Here's the perfect gift for the bloke that fishes like an absolute tit! Every fisherman should have a pair of these in his tackle box.
"The Dicky lure"
The only way to land a big one is with a big one! Put this on the end of your line and you'll bring in more big, hungry fish than you know what to do with. Shaped just like a big dick, this novelty fishing lure is not only a hilarious conversation starter for fishing buddies, but an effective means of hooking something on the end of your line. Make sure you've got at least one in your tackle box for a fishing trip you'll never forget!

Poppers (v)

Hot of the vise from this week, 4 more poppers to be used out in Thailand for Snakeheads

Poppers (IV)

Using these corks as popper heads seems to have evoked mixed feelings in the pike fly-fishing fraternity these last few days,either here on PikeFFArticles or on some of the forums I have posted these poppers in. While many have praised the use of them, others have begged to differ. Questions have been asked whether they are too bulky to use as a popper head and would also be to heavy to cast. Poppers will always be more challenging to cast especially for a novice,but there is no need to cast these flies long distances.One needs to change his approach slightly for surface lures. The further away the popper is the harder it is to impart a decent action with it. If you keep your cast to around 12-15m one has much better control over the movement of the fly. Any further and you don't get the best out of the popper.

Snotrockets are unforgiving on your flies, and so why tie up elaborate weightless flies only for them to be mullard in 3 or 4 decent sized fish. I'm not prepared to spend my hard earned cash on ready made popper heads that cost an arm and a leg especially making the middle man richer in the process...and anyone that does.....well you need to re-access the way you fish for this species. Corks work just as good as any other product on the market. I don't claim to be an expert but with 16yrs experience in targeting these fish I feel I've earned the right to share my experiences with you all. My way is certainly not the right way, but it is another option which I like sharing with you and if it gets you trying other products on the market then all the better.

Anyway, with all poppers, you need a good popper hook. Wapsi produce hooks with a kink in the shank but unfortunately they are to small for pike poppers so I use a normal saltwater fly hook and build the cotton up in 3 ridges close to the hook eye like this. Drill a smallish hole through the cork... Place a liberal amount of Superglue around the cotton and then slide the cork head over the cotton. Leave for a minute and there you have it.There is no way in hell that cork head is coming off...or turn after a few fish.

Fishing blogdom

Some of you probably have visited my my other blog called "Fishing blogdom". Its just a place where I can store and keep track of all the other great fishing blogs on the www as well as a place to show you Finland through the lens of my Camera. I have uploaded lotsa new images over the last few weeks that I think you all might like.

Click the images for a larger view once on the blog!

Poppers (III)

So several of you have contacted me over the last couple of days with regards to what are the popper heads made from. Well they are just your average small bottling corks bought from your local supermarket. They weigh practically bugger all and are cheap as chips. I get 25 in a packet for Є1.50 which beats a pack of 4 Enrico Puglisi foam popper heads at Є4.25 from my local fly shop. They can be trimmed down quite easily with a sharp blade to suite the size hook you are using as well as cut grooves in the front of them for extra disturbance. They are also extremely durable if attached correctly. I'll show you how tomorrow with a small tutorial. Although I generally just paint mine black one could paint them any colour you desire. Not a bad tight arse top tip If I say so myself!