Using ordinary hooks

[fishfinger]

Ive been given dozens of different packets of quality hooks sizes 10 to 18mustad , kamasan etc but they are not fly hooks . Can or could I use them as fly hooks as they dont look much different to me , apart from some of them having a straight eye as oppose to an upturned or downturned eye . I suppose I could bend the eye up or down with small pliers if need be . They are all metal and not wire so could be used for wets or nymphs . Your thoughts guys please

[maharg]

As long as they are eyed hooks and not spade end, I dont see the problem. I often use a drennam specimen,size 16-20(straight eyed) hook to tie spiders on.

[midlander]

The eyes on hooks were originally made with particular knots in mind. The turtle knot is the first one that springs to mind, where the gut was put through the eye and the knot tied to lay behind the eye. This enabled a straight pull along the gut, given the knots in popular usage at the time.

Now that leader materials and knots have changed there's no real (only aesthetic) need for up or down eye hooks, straight eyes will be perfectly fine.

[Rob Edmunds]

The simple answer is YES

We all use hooks that were designed for different aspects of fishing for tying flies on.

For example:- Carp Hook Buzzers

Just make sure that the hook/fly is going to be used for the right application, for example a light wire hook will bend out, so don't use it to tye Minkies or Floating Fry on

There are some cracking course (Wide Gape) hooks that i use for Mini Lures and Boobies....I think its the Kamazan 980 and that's straight eyed.

Don't bend the eye's unless absolutly necessary (ie to fit into an international rules gauge) as it will weaken the hook and your will get the occasional hook break when doing it.

[richardw]

Originally Posted by fishfinger

Ive been given dozens of different packets of quality hooks sizes 10 to 18mustad , kamasan etc but they are not fly hooks . Can or could I use them as fly hooks as they dont look much different to me , apart from some of them having a straight eye as oppose to an upturned or downturned eye . I suppose I could bend the eye up or down with small pliers if need be . They are all metal and not wire so could be used for wets or nymphs . Your thoughts guys please

The hooks you have are better for tying flies on than those offered as fly tying hooks. The straight eyes are also much, much better than the bent eyes of fly tying hooks. It is only for cheapness that I ever use fly tying hooks. If I can afford it, I use the much better coarse fishing hooks. I just wish they were all available in bulk.

richard