Mylar Tubing & Body Tubing for Streamers
( number of products: 6 )Mylar tubing and body tubing are synthetic tubes used mainly for streamer bodies, but also on sea trout and other saltwater flies. Mylar tubing gives small fry patterns a flashy body with a scale effect, while wide, light body tubing adds volume to large streamers without adding weight.
Sybai BodyFlex Tube 15mm Light Gray
Hends Mylar Tubing
Sybai BodyFlex Tube 10mm White
Sybai BodyFlex Tube 15mm Transparent
Hends Mylar Tubing MT-80 Silver
Hends Mylar Tubing MT-01 White Pearl
What are mylar tubing and body tubing used for?
Mylar tubing and body tubing are synthetic tubes that you slide over the hook shank or tie in behind the head of the fly. They are mostly used for streamer bodies – on small, flashy fry patterns as well as large pike streamers – but they also work on sea trout and other saltwater flies.
Types of mylar and body tubing
- Mylar tubing – a thin braided tube, most often in silver, gold or pearl. The braid gives a scale effect, so a mylar body reflects light like a live baitfish. It is used for mylar fry patterns and streamer bodies.
- Wide, light body tubing – 10–15 mm tubes that give large streamers bulk without extra weight, so the fly stays light and castable.
How to choose mylar or body tubing
For streamers that imitate small baitfish, e.g. for trout, perch or chub, choose mylar tubing. Silver and pearl give a bright, cool flash, while gold gives a warmer tone. Finish a mylar fry with stick-on fly tying eyes.
10 mm tubing makes a small collar that keeps the materials flared, so the streamer pushes more water. 15 mm tubing works as an addition to the body of a large pike streamer.
How to tie with mylar tubing
Mylar tubing has a core inside – pull it out before you slide the tubing over the hook. Secure both ends with a few turns of tying thread, and the unravelled fibres at the back can form the tail of the fry. A classic 6/0 or 140 denier thread is enough for mylar and body tubing, or a GSP thread of at least 75 denier.
Frequently asked questions
How do I protect a mylar body?
With a thin coat of UV resin. You can also rib it with heavier mono (approx. 0.20 mm) or wire. The body then lasts longer and does not unravel from fish teeth.
How do I colour mylar?
With a waterproof marker. A dark back and vertical bars make a mylar fry look like a small perch, for example.
How long should the piece of mylar be?
A little longer than the hook shank, with about 1 cm extra at each end. Trim the excess with scissors once both ends are tied in.