Which doubles?

[Phideaux]

I'm quite new to tying and I want to get some doubles for salmon and sea trout. Nobody appears to make barbless, so I was wondering what the preferences are regarding the normally available makes in sizes 4 - 12 (approx as I know makes vary) for tying primarily hair-wing and feather-wing.

The ones that I keep on stumbling upon are:
Partridge P
Partridge Q
Partridge Wilson 02
Partridge Salar
Kamasan
VMC
Mustad (although there appears to be a problem with getting these in the UK).
Mashama

Many thanks in advance for sharing your knowledge about hooks.

[3lbgrayling]

Salars are the biz.But oh so expensive.

Jim

[GuyFromLaw]

Originally Posted by 3lbgrayling

Salars are the biz.But oh so expensive.

Jim

IN which way are they the biz Jim?

Is it just the look?

[3lbgrayling]

Strong,good hookers.reliable.And I mostly use Flamethrower/shrimp patterns to which Salars are idealy suited.

Jim

[GuyFromLaw]

Originally Posted by 3lbgrayling

Strong,good hookers.reliable.And I mostly use Flamethrower/shrimp patterns to which Salars are idealy suited.

Jim

There's a Tay ghillie, posts here form time to time, had a sale of Salar hooks saying that all his clients were losing fish after fish after fish on Salar hooks, told the on line world that the Tay ghillies were finished with them.

[3lbgrayling]

That's not how I find them.Otherwise I would not be recommending them.You would be welcome to look through my boxes.and you would find Mostly Salars.
I Don't think youll find that Donald at Murthly would say they were rubbish.

Jim

[ibm59]

The problem with Salar doubles is that there at least 3 differing point configurations out there , varying from almost straight to sharply incurved.
Avoid the sharply incurved pointed hooks like the plague.

Relatively straight point



Incurved.



I won't buy them by post for that very reason.

Choose your Salar carefully , and it's a superb hooker.

Shocking price though.

Phideaux , the Partridge Wilson double is a lovely hook for summer salmon / seatrout use.
Light(ish) wire and beautiful proportions , although the hooks are considerably larger than the stated size would indicate.

Just don't expect the Wilson to stand up to the rough and tumble of back end / spring fishing.
It won't.

[3lbgrayling]

I agree Brian.I don't like the sharply incurved.

Jim

[ibm59]

Originally Posted by 3lbgrayling

I don't like the sharply incurved.

I only use them to tie flies for other folks , Jim.

[Phideaux]

Some other doubles that have been suggested are

Daiichi 7131 (but I can't find a UK stockist)
Partridge R1A (down-eye) that I'm going to try out.
Loop
Guideline
Sawada
Tiemco
Owner