:: FLYFISHING :: Jurij Shumakov ::

Eppendorf tubes or the "scientific" way to the best fly design
(In preparation to the coming season)
By Jurij Shumakov

Some 20 years ago, I was invited to a rather sophisticated New Years party. As usual, between sips of champagne and morsels of Russian caviar, the guests seated around the long dinner table were engaged in pleasant conversation, euphorically floating from theme to theme. The conversation smoothly glided over to the topic of modern science and here, suddenly, a top ranking ambassador's wife heatedly declared that all genetic engineers and molecular biologists must be hanged upside down, giving a number of "reasons" why that kind of scientists are particularly dangerous for humanity and must be eliminated. People who knew me blushed but kept silent and the situation quickly became embarrassing. As tactfully as possible under the circumstances, I attempted to defend my scientific "fate" and profession, saying that genetic engineers are, at least, not less important for the modern world than ambassadors wife, so the lady was a bit confused. She very emotionally begged my pardon, and said that she hadn't meant me personally, so the situation became even more embarrassing and quite absurd. :-)

For me, that case is a striking example of human behaviour and so called double standards. It is so easy to be categorical and judgemental about matters you don't know very much about, but it is very difficult to realize your own limitations.

I am sure that by now you are all wondering how modern science and human fallibility come into fly-fishing, let alone fly-tying. Is there a connection? Where is the missing link? The answer should be obvious. As you will discover, the modern science laboratory, especially specialized in micro- or molecular biology and biochemistry, is in fact a real gold mine for the fly-tier. Some people may feel I deserve to be hanged as a scientist, but in the present article I will at least humbly try to contribute to humanity as a fisherman. You see, I am doing my best to make amends! :-)

A few years ago, when Scandinavian tubes had just come in fashion, I read an article written by Håkan Norling in English fishing magazine Trout & Salmon. The Tempeldog and the Black Green Highlander both came as a revelation and struck me right in my heart. But to become a neophyte in "tube business" wasn't as easy business as I had thought. The absence of the right materials was complicated by almost total absence of suitable tubes. Flies tied on the tubes you could buy in shops looked a bit like people who have enjoyed unlimited access to fast food from MacDonald's.

To make matters worse, most fly-fishermen demonstrated extreme conservatism, and in some ways behaved and reacted as that ambassador's wife. :-) It was practically impossible to get good advice on finding materials or modern tying technique. I tried everything from Q-tips to the plastic nozzle of special car sprays.

I continued painfully fumbling in the dark, until one day, quite unexpectedly, my fate as a scientist connected to my destiny as a fisherman: I found it! A new type of disposable tippets had just been delivered for my favourite lab tool, an automatic pipette. Those new tippets were made from transparent high-pressure polyethylene, very strong, long - up to 1 and 1/3 inch in length - and yet moderately flexible. It is hard to break them, but at the same time the plastic melts very easily and nicely to build rims on both sides. The plastic of the tippets is absolutely inert and non-toxic. To top it all, they are tapered, so I could finish my fly with a really fine head!

My first experiments with the disposable tippets showed that, as general plastic tube material for tying, they were better than anything I could dream about. Further search among many catalogues opened for me the new unexplored world of lab plastic. It was so exciting, that I found ways and arguments to persuade my boss to buy some of them. No-no-no! Don't think I abused the stuff and situation. We bought them, of course, for science, and used them properly! But, I didn't simply throw them away afterwards as you are supposed to. Instead, I used the "disposable" tippets for my fly-tying experiments. Perhaps for this small crime I should be hanged? Nevertheless, I continue my experiments in both labs.

Finally, I found 4 types of pipette tippets, which were particularly satisfactory, and which I have used for the last few years. Now it is time to introduce my laboratory findings to fly-fishing society! Definitely, if I could find the tubes of my interest in the nearest fly-shop, I wouldn't think about "pioneering" in this field. And I have strong feeling I will soon be able to walk into a fly-fishing shop and simply buy them.

So, lets declare the Races for the owners of shops and firms open! Those who first establish contacts with the Eppendorf Co., or open their own production of the tubes will win, not only our money, but our heartfelt "Thanks" too... :-)

All around tippet and tubes prepared for tying

I mostly use the first type of tippet to build light 1-inch Scandinavian style tube flies. You can tie fly until the very end, and then build a rim and accurate head. This type of tippet can be used for half-inch flies too. Since the tippets are tapered, you can use them with almost all sizes of coneheads as you wish, so your fly will look really proportional.

Castle Killer (baptized into the Scandinavian Style)