Hitch Tube Fly

[abk]

Since it is viewed right on the surface against the sky I am inclined to think that it does not. Many of the the original hitch tubes had no body dressing.

[underghillie]

Black and Yellow or Black with a Blue body

[ballingall512]

Martin.

I don't think that the colour of the body/ tube matters at all.

As Abk says most hitch patterns have no body dressing at all.
The Allistair monkey/sunray in hitch versions have no body. I think it is more about the turbulence /disturbence on the surface that causes the fish to chase and take the fly.

the more you can disturb the surface the better.

I tie some of my hitch flies with a clear tube and insert a small piece of fluo scandi tubing inside at the head of the fly to act as a target/tag, then Melt over the front comletely which 1 keeps the smaller tubing in place and 2 helps the hitching.

Another great hitch fly is the sunray tsunami tied with a deerhair head like a muddler or jambo seatrout lure. this one seems to work best tied in the willie gunn colours, again no body materials.

My favourite for hitching is to take a clear plastic scandi tube medium or large diameter, and heat the end until molten, then push the end firmly into a turbo disc of medium size. hold for a few seconds then remove.
This will give your plastic tube a plastic turbo head without the need for a turbo cone, so it will float, and trust me it puts out a hell of a wake on the water, especially when hitched.
Perfect for the tail of the cotter
Tie on whatever pattern you wish, normally a simlpe bucktail or goat wing from 2 - 6 inches and away you go

I'll stick together a wee sbs on how to do it for the other members

[underghillie]

I think as Dave said about the tsunami sunray in w/g colours works best, i am sure the colour of the skirt or wing on a hitch tube make's a difference on a particular day IE cloudy or sunny as to whether you use black as the wing or much lighter colour IE yellow.

The Gentalman i first seen fishing with hitch tubes used All black wings or skirts with a black body for dull days and as a change if he had a fish come to his hitch and did not take when cast to again 3 minutes later he would then put on the one with blue body and black wing or skirt.

For bright or sunny days he used black and yellow with clear tubing or grey squirrel and yellow with a clear tube.

The size of the tubes he used were from 1/2" to 1 1/2" , he would change size depending on water teperature, water height and the speed of current, he definately made it very scientific

The first time he fished with me, it was my first season at Murthly and i said to him you will catch feck all on they things Sir I think it was his 3rd or 4th cast he hooked a grilse of 4lb

Guess who fished with them after that

[ballingall512]

;D ;D ;D

Aye they certainly work when the fish are 'on'

I like a wee black hitch tube, with a chartruese insert at the head.

seems to work ok in most conditions.

[guidduglucy]

Had a fish on a skimmer today (hitched flee) been doing it for years and is my fav way of fishing. Any colour you want as long as its black, actually any colour will work just keep it moving and make a wake. The fish today boiled at it in the cauld then chased it then jumped out of the water onto the fly. I use them from quarter inch to 6/7 inch and have had fish on them all, right down to 42 degs in shallower water, after saying that I go through a pool at speed, you need to ambush the fish with it it's no good casting over them time after time, two casts tops over a lie then move on if no boils or splashes. just keep it moving. Fish starting to move into lower Tweed beats this week 4 today all liced on the Lees

[inchlumpie001]

Is there any specific way to tie the Hitch Tube onto your hook ?? Any special knots ??

[ballingall512]

Aug 3, 2010 8:30:12 GMT inchlumpie001 said:

Is there any specific way to tie the Hitch Tube onto your hook ?? Any special knots ??

Not for tying tubes on.

If you were hitching using a fly dressed on a hook, then a simple half hitch over the eye after tying on the fly would cause the fly to swim at an angle, hence the term "hitch fly"

the standard way of attatching a hitch tube, is to heat a needle, and make a hole on the side of your plastic tube, then seal over the front end.
Thread your leader through the hole in the side of the tube, then tie on your hook as normal.
this will cause your fly to be pulled across the surface at an angle ie hitch, and cause a wake on the surface.
Depending on which bank you are fishing, would depend on which side of the tube the hole would be for the line, in order for it to hitch correctly.

Hope this helps.

Dave.

[inchlumpie001]

Cheers Dave,

Will try that.