Your favorite hook

[Bazzer69]

I am wondering what is your favorite hook for soft hackle nymphs and why? I am interested in both eyed hooks and a few blind eyed hooks tied to gut. At the moment I'm in favor of older style Hardy hooks with the Kirby bend
Thanks
Barry

[Premerger]

Hi Barry, from a non-traditional view, I'm liking the Kamasan B170.
It is a lighter wire than some hooks but strong and reliable.
I like the length of the shank for tying wingless wets.

[Smuggler]

I am wondering what is your favorite hook for soft hackle nymphs and why? I am interested in both eyed hooks and a few blind eyed hooks tied to gut. At the moment I'm in favor of older style Hardy hooks with the Kirby bend
Thanks
Barry

For fishing or tying? You've picked a dandy with those Hardy Kirby bends.

If I had to pick one for the two aspects, I would say;
Fishing: Fulling Mill Ultimate Dry barbless.
Tying: Sprites Don Walker ring eye hooks.

I've never found any blind eye hooks for trout flies but, that's intriguing! The hunt begins.

[William Anderson]

Barry, welcome. It's a good question and I wish I had an elegant response, but I don't. My tying in recent years has been more hatch specific and my hook selection varies based on all the factors you might expect, shank length, gape size and wire gauge. It doesn't help having sonmany excellent hooks to choose from. I still favor the daiichi 1530 and 1550 models. If I were forced to choose. The Fulling Mills Ultimate Dry Barbless is a beautiful hook and scary sharp. When you land on one you favor I hope you'll let us know.

[Bazzer69]

I like to tie a nice looking fly, but fishing with a good chance is more important to me. I am keen to try try blind eye hooks just for fun. I am busy tying some dries at the moment, but as soon as I get some decent hooks for flymph's and soft hackle's I'm going to tie a bunch
Happy New Year to everyone!
Let's hope there is more peace in 2017 and more fish!
Barry

[Old Hat]

I have a lot of favorites for soft hackles. They are selected based on the presentation of the fly. I have a favorite for spiders that I want very near the top, a favorite for those mid column and those a bit deeper. You really can't stick to just one type for productive purposeful fishing. For what I would consider a soft hackle nymph, which is a wingless wet designed to fish deeper than most emerged or spider patterns, I prefer the Mustad S80 and S82's. they hook well, are strong and sink the fly readily. The S82 for those with a longer profile and the S80 for those species that are short and stout.

[joaniebo]

Barry

I'm with Bill in that almost all the soft hackle dressings I tie, I use the Daiichi 1550 or 1530 hooks. I also like the old Partrridge Caps. Hamilton hooks that I've purchased from Richard Jefferies (he now lives in France).

Bob

[Bazzer69]

I've actually ordered some hooks from Richard thanks. I would have them in a few days.
Barry

[joaniebo]

Barry

Ordered a bunch of the old Partridge hooks from Richard and received them a few days ago, just a week or so after I placed the order. There's something special in tying the old dressings on the old Partridge hooks.

Bob