some jigs and nymphs

[john_mac]

my attempts at going small, first a size 18




and a size 20





any comments/criticisms much appreciated

cheers,

John

[burhan]

lovely flies mate. quick question. what are the advantages of using jig hooks and is it possible to bend normal hooks to give them that jig profile?

burhan

[urbanflyman]

Originally Posted by burhan

lovely flies mate. quick question. what are the advantages of using jig hooks and is it possible to bend normal hooks to give them that jig profile?

burhan

this is something ive often wondered about ?just what are the uses for jig hooks.

[burhan]

come on folks. someone must know the answer

burhan

[mancfly]

Well, i am confused about jig hooks too! The arguments i have read suggest that the downward kink in the shank with weight on it, helps the hook fish bend/point up to help prevent snagging. This bemuses me, and i do not agree. Some of those statements are on this forum.

My experience with putting weight below the shank using bead eyes in my case, forces the fly to fish point down. If i put the bead chain eyes on top of the shank, as usually recommended, (Humungus etc.),the fly fishes point up.

Ok, if the fly is on a tight line, dropped into the water and actually jigged up and down, no problem, its actually being used as a jig. The kink and weight help to give a see-saw effect.

But for normal casting and presentation, i don't see the point. No pun intended!

P.S. John, those are great little killer nymphs! Nice ties!

[madjoni]

Hi John...Grayling is about to be in real danger
i like them all

[burhan]

Originally Posted by mancfly

Well, i am confused about jig hooks too! The arguments i have read suggest that the downward kink in the shank with weight on it, helps the hook fish bend/point up to help prevent snagging. This bemuses me, and i do not agree. Some of those statements are on this forum.

My experience with putting weight below the shank using bead eyes in my case, forces the fly to fish point down. If i put the bead chain eyes on top of the shank, as usually recommended, (Humungus etc.),the fly fishes point up.

Ok, if the fly is on a tight line, dropped into the water and actually jigged up and down, no problem, its actually being used as a jig. The kink and weight help to give a see-saw effect.

But for normal casting and presentation, i don't see the point. No pun intended!

P.S. John, those are great little killer nymphs! Nice ties!

thanks mate. i think i understand what you're on about

burhan

[Buzz]

Jig hooks have one purpose IMO and that’s to be fished on the river bed. They bump along the river bed bead first so the ar5e of the fly points skyward.
This serves one primary purpose and that’s to get a weighted fly on the river bed without snagging.
The second attribute is they looks like a wee beasty trying to "escape" and bury itself in the river bed, remember when we don’t see rising fish doesn’t mean they are not feeding.
If it aint on the bottom it is not fishing properly, fishing jigs above the river bed serves no purpose, or at least none I can think of. That’s not to say they should be fished singly far from it, they work well as the heaviest fly in a team of Czech Nymphs or as I like to fish them as the point fly when fishing the Trio.

[burhan]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Jig hooks have one purpose IMO and that’s to be fished on the river bed. They bump along the river bed bead first so the ar5e of the fly points skyward.
This serves one primary purpose and that’s to get a weighted fly on the river bed without snagging.
The second attribute is they looks like a wee beasty trying to "escape" and bury itself in the river bed, remember when we don’t see rising fish doesn’t mean they are not feeding.
If it aint on the bottom it is not fishing properly, fishing jigs above the river bed serves no purpose, or at least none I can think of. That’s not to say they should be fished singly far from it, they work well as the heaviest fly in a team of Czech Nymphs or as I like to fish them as the point fly when fishing the Trio.

thanks buzz, this is the sort of answer i was looking for. when tying jigs, would it be helpful to only use a lead wire/tungsten lace near the eye of the fly so that the point point of the hook points skywards. also is it possible to bend normal eye hooks in that way. sorry i'm new to fly tying and i'm a tight ar$e.

burhan

[Englander]

Cracking nymphs John Have to say im going to nick that little top fella with the red rump and tie a few for my box