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Hoh Bo Spey Tube Fly – Tying Instructions

How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
No color combination off limits. Photos: Stuart Foxall.

A while back, Stuart Foxall presented us with step by step tying instructions for Charles St. Pierre’s Hoh Bo Spey – An absolute deadly pattern for steelhead and salmon. Today, Stu’s back again with another great step by step on how to tie the Hoh Bo Spey – This time, on a tube!

Enjoy!

Hoh Bo Spey Tube – Tying Instructions

If there’s one fly that a Pacific Northwest Spey angler should have in his/her box it’s Charles St. Pierre’s “Hoh Bo Spey.” We’ve done a step by step on the Hoh Bo Spey before, tied on a shank, but there is still a tendency for fish to take the fly deeply which is something that we should aim to prevent. For that reason alone, it is a great fly to tie on tubes. There’s another added bonus to tying it on a tube as well which we’ll explain more about below. Here’s how to tie it.

How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for stealhead.
Step 1: Fix your liner tube inside the outer tube as shown. I cut the outer tube at a slant to prevent it slipping and also add a little glue. Usually I tie the fly on the outer tube to make it as durable as possible. But, as these are really quite cheap and quick to tie, I don’t mind scrapping a few after catching a fish or two.. Or, three!
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 2: Add a nice big dubbing ball of Ice Dubbing.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 3: Tie in a good guinea fowl feather by the tip and a length of oval ribbing.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 4: Dub a nice slim body of Ice Dubbing. This is why I left the outer tubing short at the back of the fly to hold the hook correctly. Tying the body on the tube liner keeps the profile of the fly nice and thin.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 5: Palmer the guinea fowl feather up the tube in even turns and tie off.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 6: Counter wind the tinsel towards the head of the fly to protect the guinea fowl feather from fish teeth, and tie off. Wiggle the wire back and forth as you wrap to avoid trapping any guinea fibers.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 7: Tie in a good grade marabou feather by the tip.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 8: Wind the marabou feather like a head hackle and tie off securely.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 9: Add a few strands of holographic and mirage Flashabou.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 10: Tie in a few strands of lady amherst pheasant fibers around the head of the fly.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Step 11: Tie the ends off securely, whip finish and varnish the head of the fly.
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for stealhead.
Tip: If you want to create a little weight, how about these Pro Sportfisher “Ultra Sonic Discs?” Those holes at the front of the cone are going to make that marabou dance like crazy!
How to tie the Hoh Bo Spey tube fly for steelhead.
Rigging Tip: Here’s the added little bonus to tying the Hoh Bo Spey on a tube. If you feel that you need a larger silhouette, how about putting two tubes on your leader together. Try putting a light color and a dark color tube together to cover all bases. No color combination is off limits!

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