Signature Series Intruder

Adding the Hook

Because this fly is tied on a cut hook shank, I rig it with a trailing hook using junction tubing, similar to how you would rig a tube fly. Tie the hook of your choice to a tippet section using a surgeon’s loop. Thread the tippet through a short 1/2-inch piece of soft plastic tubing, through the small monofilament loop near the back of the shank, and then up through the hook eye. Attach the tippet to your leader using a double surgeon’s knot or blood knot.

To snug everything up, pull on the tippet to draw the surgeon’s loop knot into the base of the junction tubing. Slide the other end of the junction tubing onto the exposed base of the hook shank. The tubing holds the hook firmly in place while fishing. The monofilament loop ensures the line does not foul around the fly.

Intruders you buy at the store are tied with the hook attached by a piece of looped braid. I’m certain that the fly fishes equally well with the hook permanently looped to the shank, but if the hook dulls you must sharpen it or throw the fly away. Using junction tubing allows you to change hooks just like a tube fly, but preserve the look of a traditional steelhead fly.

[For more information on adding hooks using junction tubing, see “Modern Tubes for Steelhead” at flyfisherman.com/ftb/jnsteelheadtubes. The Editor.]