Hooks

[scotty9]

Hi guys, looking for a bit of expertise here! I've (very) recently taken up fly tying and seems to be getting along fine with practising techniques and creating finished flies but hook choice seems nuts!

I've been tying DHEs and balloon caddis on B100s, the balloon caddis actually looks pretty good on a curved hook! But what would be your first choice as a standard, straight shank dry fly hook say between size 10-16? I have kamasan b401 but i've read they are a bit soft, don't want to try to find out

I like the look of some TMC hooks but how do i know which to use? I also have a couple flies tied by spidersplus on Grip 11011BL. Haven't caught on them yet, got them right at the tail end of the season. I've also used his DHEs on a TMB2487BL and the hookup/hold is top notch!

Would also appreciate it if anyone could give me some info on what the 1x wire and 2x shank etc all mean? Is the x a multiplier or is it a diameter etc? I'm lost with all that stuff atm!

And finally any hooks that should be avoided like the plague please let me know!

Wow what a list of questions that is but i really do appreciate any help that comes my way! What hooks should i be looking for please

[Hans Weilenmann]

1X heavy = wire sized to match one hook size up. Please note, one digit up means #12 1X heavy has same gauge as a (mostly non-existent) #11 standard wire.

1XS and 1XL follow same principle for shank length.

Cheers,
Hans W

[scotty9]

Originally Posted by Hans Weilenmann

1X heavy = wire sized to match one hook size up. Please note, one digit up means #12 1X heavy has same gauge as a (mostly non-existent) #11 standard wire.

1XS and 1XL follow same principle for shank length.

Cheers,
Hans W

Thanks Hans. What would be the exact difference between say 1X Fine and 1X Heavy? Assuming i'm talking sense!

[bigbadtroutfisher]

Check this link out for Phil's ballaon caddis tied on a partridge hook.
Spiders Plus - Online shopping - Your chosen fly Details Caddis - 4 Flies
Robert

I love partridge SUD's and SLD's if you can track them down.
for me the ones to avoid are the ultra thin wiry Varivas and my personal nemesis is teimco103BL
I tied up a dozen of my favorite pattern on them last winter on the size 17,(more like a 14 for everyone else!) only to find the hooks where consistantly opening up and losing trout for me. Not being the faster tyer in the west, I was livid.


UK Game Fishing Specialists, Foxon's Tackle of North Wales Is a link to the page description and illustration from fooxons.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Originally Posted by scotty9

Thanks Hans. What would be the exact difference between say 1X Fine and 1X Heavy? Assuming i'm talking sense!

The short answer is that 1X Fine hooks have the gauge of wire as a standard wire hook one number smaller. As you know most hooks are only available in even numbered sizes, so 1X Fine or 1X Heavy will not have actual hooks to match the gauge with.

A #10 2X Fine will have the same gauge wire as a #12 standard wire hook.

The gauge steps are not linear, though. A #10 and #12, both standard wire, will have a larger difference than comparing a #20 to a #22.

Confused yet?

Cheers,
Hans W

[scotty9]

Thanks for all the help guys.

Hans, that actually went straight in, explained very well, thank you! I should now have a better idea of what i am looking at now!

Can anyone help with actual hook models? Obviously you guys have given me the partridge ones but they're not cheap are they I was looking at a few offerings from Grip, Dohiku and Tiemco. Any to avoid bar the 103BL already stated?

[rookstorm]

hI SCOTT I USE 103BL,S AND KAMASAN B400,S ,KAMASAN B100,S WILL DO ALL YOUR EMERGERS THEY ARE AS STRONG AS YOU GET,THEY ALL WORK FOR ME,THE B400,S ARE STRONG HOOKS AS WELL BUT BARBED

[Buzz]

Scott the bad news unfortunately is you get what you pay for in terms of hooks.
If you are on a budget Lathkill do TMC style hooks under their own name, i have bought plenty and i think they are v good value for money. They have a wee picture next to the hook which gives an accurate description and a photograph.

O'Rielly on here does Kamasan hooks by the 100 at very good prices.

If your looking for sexy hooks at discounted prices your going to have to import them so you run the risk of currency fluctuations. I can send you links, just PM me.

I like the 103bl and thought most folk do?
The only two hooks i would tell anyone to avoid are Varivas 2200 and 2120 both of which bump fish like anything else. Having said that the best hooking hook in the world ever is the Varivas IWI S 2000. If Carlsberg made hooks...

the Varivas that i had problems with were the 2110, They looked brilliant but the wire just wouldn't hold shape even while they where being tied.

Maybe the 103bl's are not equiped for our midland river browns!.