Thoughts on Sprite hooks?

[Old Hat]

Has anyone used these? Let me know what you think.

[Hans Weilenmann]

Old Hat,

I have used, and do use, Sprite hooks in my tying - alongside other brands.

The Sprite company, based in Redditch in the UK, has produced and is producing handmade hooks - to my knowledge the last Redditch company to do so after Partridge - then Mustad owned - relocated their operation to the far east. (Now that the Partridge is back in UK owned hands, I am not sure what their present plans are.)

Sprite have a limited range of models (and production capacity), but the hooks that they do make are of fine quality.

Aside from their own brand, they also produce the hooks sold in the US under the Gaelic Supreme name. The Gaelic Supreme range started with designs by Jack Mickievicz, in PA, and put on the market by Belvoirdale, a Philly based company owned and operated by Grahame Maisey, an English expat.

Cheers,
Hans W

[Old Hat]

Thanks Hans I appreciate the feedback. The background information is very appreciated as well. I use a few of the Gaelic Supreme hooks and noticed the Sprite hooks as I was placing an order. They have a sproat wet and perfect dry that I liked the looks of. Maybe I will give them a try on the next order. Again, thanks.

[Ruard]

I use them a lot and I am very satisfied with them, especially the perfect international.

Greeting

[Old Hat]

Thanks Ruard. Yes' from two tyers I admire.

[Mataura mayfly]

I bought some of their Perfect International recently in Northern Ireland. Each pack contained hooks of high quality, well formed and very sharp. That line is a heavy wire gauge though, bought out for competition fishing where it is against the rules to add artificial weight to the fly to get it down, so they make a heavy hook to get past the rule. I purchased them for that reason as most of the moving water I fish is fairly big compared to chalkstreams and some of the small trout waters of America and Europe, the ability to get deep quick is an advantage sometimes and I like to fish some un-beaded patterns.

From the small selection I have, they are well made, good quality and have everything I need in a hook.

[Donald Nicolson]

Great info from Hans, I haven't tried the Sprite or Gaelic hooks,
they do sound very interesting.

[Old Hat]

Thanks for chiming in guys. I'm excited to try some.

[Mataura mayfly]

To give some idea of the Sprite hooks versus others, here is a group of tatty looking Partridge and Yellow on some "common" #12 hooks.



Left to right.
1: Mustad 3913B
2: Sprite Perfect International
3: Kamasan B175
4: Finney Flies .com Irish Lough Barbless
5: Gamakatsu C14S

[Hans Weilenmann]

Jeff,

Interesting. The Sprite Perfect International hook is actually the Sprite model I like least of all. I think it is because of the rather short length between where the bend ends and the barb. To me it looks disproportionate. Secondly I am not a fan of the black baked-on finish on this hook. A form of black nickel would have been my preference.

Cheers,
Hans W