Rigging Stinger Hooks with Tube Flies

The last step is pretty darned important. Photo: Tom Larimer.

Tube flies and stinger hooks are very popular with anglers who chase salmon and steelhead with fly rods, for a few reasons.

They allow you to change your hook without changing your fly.
They allow you to fish a big fly without fishing a hook with a long shank, which helps you land more fish.
They allow you to change the positioning of the hook relative to the fly.

Today Tom Larimer gives us a lesson in how he rigs stinger hooks with tube flies. Tom likes using an actual loop-to-loop connection between the leader and the eye of hook, rather than tying a knot to the eye of the hook.

NOTE: If you’re viewing this in a newsletter or a reader, click here to learn how to rig stinger hooks on YouTube.

Here’s the summary.

The right size tubing is important – Eumer in small or Frodin in extra small.
Pass the tube onto the leader. Tie a non-slip mono loop without the hook, leaving a loop an inch long or so, depending on the size of the fly.
For steelhead, use a size 2 Gamakatsu or Owner SSW.
Put the loop through the eye of the hook and pass it over the bend – loop to loop with the hook.
Pull the knot into the junction tubing and point the hook up or down depending on the run that you’re fishing.