I have been tying tuna flies on popsicle tubes for years.    The best way to collect a supply is at kid's play grounds that are near a diary.      Best go there when it is raining as mothers get quite concerned when they see a man without kids wandering around the swings and slides.     The tubes come in 2 diameters.     If you have a choice collect the smallest diameter ones.

The photos give you some idea of the popsicle tube on which I wind a long fiber Marabou hackle.     Once secured I cut it off the remaining tube.    How long a stub you leave on depends on how long you want your fly to look after you slide it onto the base fly.     You can not only vary the size you can also change the colour combination, slide a colour or tungsten bead on between the fly and hackle.    If you are not happy with that you can return to your base fly by just cutting the tippet and slide all the extras off.     No need to tie streamers in different sizes.

I am still trying to find a simple way to make the base fly articulate.    This is possible by tying it on with a small loop knot and a very small bead before sliding the hackle tube on.      Work in progress.

Cheers and Merry Christmas to all.

Rainbow

Ps all the stackers in the photos are tied on larger diameter tubes.    I now prefer smaller tubes.

However, you could also use brass tubes for extra weight.    If you don't like them sliding up or down on the leader you can fix it with a toothpick.

   

Rainbow