Maximize the gape exposure
On tubeflies approximately 30 % of the hookgapes are masked with normal hookguard
mountings, leading to inferior exposure of the gape, a more shallow hookhold and
consequently a less solid hookhold. But with L-rigs and The Release Fly all three gapes are
100% freely exposed leading to a better grip in the first place - plus a deeper and stronger
hookhold.
Text and photos: Jens Bursell
Hook-exposure on tubeflies
On traditional tubefly mountings like this wakefly the hookguard combined with the body of the fly partly masks the
hookgape on all three branches, resulting in a more shallow hookhold (0,7 x) compared to what you would have had, if
the gape was 100% freely exposed (x). The yellow foam visualizes the jaw seen from the side.
When hooked on two branches in the same jaw or tissue surface, you get the most shallow hookhold possible (0,2 x).
The depth of the hookgrip will on a tubfly like this normally lie in the span from 0,2 x to 0,7 x ).
Left: When mounted on a L-rig (or a Release Fly), where all three gapes are 100 % freely exposed, you have a good
chance of getting the best possible grip in the flesh, when only one branch penetrate (x). Right: Even when hooked on
two branches in the same surface – the l-rig gives a deeper grip (0,3 x)than the traditional mounting (0,2 x). The depth
of the
hookgrip with a tubefly on a L-rig normally lie in the span from 0,3-1,0 x and is consequently approx. 30 % deeper
compared to traditional tubefly mountings.
On a shrimp-imitation with a bulky rear-part like this “Final Shrimp”, the difference between gapeexposure on normal mountings and L-rigs is even bigger. In this example with a traditional tubefly
hookguard mounting it lies between 0,08 and 0,5 x. With the same fly on a L-rig you gape exposure
and chance of a deep hook-grip would be 2-3 times better!