Wapsi Logo
Stretch Tubing

Stretch Tubing

  • Great for segmented bodies on midge, caddis, and scud patterns
  • Makes nice nymph wing cases and scud backs
  • Available in 3 sizes and 14 colors

Some tying tricks with Stretch Tubing

The most popular use for Stretch Tubing is as a segmented body for midge, caddis, and scud patterns. All that is necessary for these flies is to tie in the tubing and wrap it over the hook. Many fly tyers tie the tubing in at the rear of the hook and simply wrap it forward, producing a functional fly. However, by tying the tubing in near the front of the hook (perhaps behind a bead), wrapping it back and then forward over itself, the fly will be more nicely tied. An example of this technique can be seen in the tying instructions for the Stretch Tubing Scud shown below:

Stretch Tubing Scud
This fly is an excellent imitation for scuds, sowbugs, and caddis/midge larva. It is most frequently tied in sizes 12 - 20 in gray, olive, and tan for scud/sowbugs or olive, cream, red, and black for midges and caddis.

Materials Needed:

Brass Bead
Shrimp/Caddis Hook size 12 - 20
70 Denier Thread (Tan)
Stretch Tubing
Instruction picture 1 Instruction picture 2 Instruction picture 3
Thread a bead onto the hook by inserting the point into the smaller hole of the bead. Start your thread behind the bead, covering the back shank with enough thread to color it and then return the thread to the back of the bead. Tie in a 6" piece of stretch tubing just behind the bead and secure it with several thread wraps. Trim off any excess.
Instruction picture 4 Instruction picture 5 Instruction picture 6
Wrap the stretch tubing back down the shank until you start down the curve of the bend. Reverse the direction of the tubing now wrapping back toward the bead. Continue to wrap forward until you reach the bead.
Instruction picture 7 Instruction picture 8 Instruction picture 9
Tie off the stretch tubing and trim the tag end of the tubing. Finish the fly with several half hitches, applying head cement to any exposed thread. Here is the finished fly. Notice how the color of the thread shows up underneath the tubing.
The Stretch Tubing Scud shown above is an excellent midge and/or caddis larvae imitation. Choose colored tubing for imitating the opaque body coloration of larvae and clear tubing for imitating the semi-translucent pupae. By using clear tubing you can change the underlying color just by varying your thread color. Because the tubing is hollow another neat trick is to cut a piece of Ultra Wire and insert it into the tubing prior to wrapping the body.

Visit the PDF page for a listing of available colors and sizes.