Hi,
I am pretty sure that the items that I am asking about are called "hook snaps".
I have seen them advertised but never used them. They are the means where the fly can be snapped on and off without re-tying knots.
Do the fish see them? Do they think they are the head of a fly? How secure are they?
A few questions I know but, hopefully some members will be able to assist prior to maybe buying a few, if reports are good.
Mustad are one company that i know makes them.
Thanks,
Keith

Hey Keith,

I've used them only on lures and larger flies and caught!

But, I wouldn't try them on buzzers or smaller flies because I feel buzzers, small diawls, crunchers are small enough and if they see them they can surely see the hook snapper thingys

To me the hook snaps on small flies would make the fly look a tad dodgy to the more resident (and stocked) fish...This, causing refusals

I wouldn't/haven't try(ed) them on small flies...better to re-tie if your not in a hurry

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PawPrinT
"I'd rather be fishing"

Hi Keith,
They are particularly useful if you are tying up articulated lures. Tie the snap in along the shank of the front hook (use a loop of strong mono) then dress over the mono with fritz, whip finish and put to one side. Dress the second hook as the marabou tail, and you can clip the tail on to the "body" by way of the snap. This allows you to ring the changes of colour combinations at the waterside -- say green body and white tail, cat's whisker style, black and green viva-style, or any other set-up you fancy. If you want a single-hook lure, you will have to cut off the bend of one of the hooks after it has been dressed. You can, of course, also dress the body with a gold/copper/black bead head to give you a deadly sink-and-draw retrieve. Not to everybody's taste, and I confess I haven't fished one for years, but these lures have been known to save a blank when more subtle methods have failed.
Angus

If you search the archives i think there are some threads on this


all the best Nick

Keith,

I believe that it was actually Mustad who were the first company to introduce 'bronzed hook snaps' and I can certainly recall buying some in the mid 1970's in order to trial in a variety of fishing situations.

I quickly decided that for bait and flyfishing, though, I didn't like the hinge effect which they imparted on a hook and so I discontinued their use for those applications. For fishing spinners, spoons and plugs however, they were very useful and had no detrimental effect on fish-catching, as far as I can remember; possibly even enhancing the action of the action of the lure.

Once you start using the Fas-Snaps, you will never tie on another fly. Not only are they quick to change patterns, the fly moves freely to give it movement and life, compared to being tied direct. People over here are using the Duncan loop to get the same action as what the snaps end up doing.

No-Knot Fas-Snap

OK for lures I suppose..........no good for small dry flies.........I don't like 'em........birdsnest

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