Why do some still use up eyed hooks for drys?

[Ron Clay]

This is something quite frankly I never have been able to get my head around. A down eyed hook is going to sit better on the water for a start. And as regards fish catching and hooking abilities, the down eyed hook is superior.

Or perhaps there might be a sentimental tradition behind the practice.

What do you think?

[Mrtrout]

I have used up eye hooks for years Ron, and only last year started using either down eye or straight eye hooks.
I can't honestly say, it has made the slightest difference.
S.

[guest21]

Originally Posted by Ron Clay

And as regards fish catching and hooking abilities, the down eyed hook is superior.

In what way? How is this judged ... evidence?

[hobble]

Ron stop digging a hole mate

you might not get out of

[ickypimp]

i wont because i like up eyed hooks...

[guest21]

Darrel Martin's book, "Micropatterns tying and fishing the small fly," devotes a chapter to hooks and their performance characteristics.

In his conclusion about 'small hooks' Martin concludes that,

"Eye Orientation. The down-eye may act like a shock absorber, placing most of its torque on the shank. After the shank is deformed, the stress passes to the bend. Although up-eye and down-eye hooks achieve the 45 degrees at about the same stress, the down-eye hook appears to achieve the 45 degrees sooner. The up-eye pulls more in line with the shank, thereby transferring more stress to the bend than the shank. The larger the hook and the longer the shank, the more pronounced the effect. In small hooks, the effect is not as dramatic. The integrity of the bend and, consequently, the hold may continue while the shank deforms. Down-eye hooks tend to be minimally stronger than up-eye hooks."

From this I would infer that there is barely any difference between the performance of down-eye and up-eyed hooks, certainly not enough to stop using them.

[ACW]

I use some pre war Hardy up eyes for some of my Danica patterns,why ,because they are good for the job and I got them for a great price when Benwoods of Church st closed along with a vast number of other classic hooks!
Being a salmon fisher as well I rather like up eyes.

[urbanflyman]

i like the way traditional dry fly patterns using an up eye hooks sits on the water,, and for me they are just as good as any other type of hook ,,,this could just be the simple fact that my first dry fly caught trout was taken on an up eye dry fly,,, and for me i will use this type of hook when using traditional dry fly patterns (Greenwells glory) as it gives me confidence.

[Threerivers]

I think the logic behind up-eyed hooks for dry fly/down-eyed for wets came about because of the direction the line pulls on them. Imagine a dry fly tied on an up-eyed hook; it lands on the surface in (we hope) the correct attitude, wings uppermost. It floats down the stream until the angler decides to lift it off. As soon as he tightens to the fly it is pulled towards him, and with an up-eyed hook that pull should, in theory, skate the fly over the surface on its belly - the hook shank and eye forming a shape not unlike the keel and bow of a boat, or perhaps more accurately a water-ski. With a down-eyed hook the angle of eye can cause the hook to dig in downwards, drowning the fly. This tendency to be pulled under is of course an advantage with flies that are meant to fish subsurface; if they don't penetrate on landing a quick tug on the line should see them pierce he surface.

There's rather more to it than that, but getting heavily into angles of penetration (on striking) is perhaps outside the scope of a fly fishing forum. Suffice to say if you still tie your flies on with a double turle knot an up-eyed hook is more likely to find purchase in a trout's jaw than a down-eyed hook. If you use a grinner, tucked half blood or double granny knot the down-eyed hook possibly has the edge in this respect. However, shank length and shape of bend can have a greater relative effect than eye direction.

[Mrtrout]

A good explanation, thanks Threerivers.
S.