What's your favorite hook?

[WiFlyfisher]

For small flies (wet or dry) for those big fish out West the TMC 2488 hooks are all I will use anymore. They have never failed me when other hooks have been straighten when big fish greyhounded me.

[Greenwell]

Barry,

To the best of my knowledge neither the TMC 3769 nor the TMC 9300 are available in a black finish. (I have my own opinions on black trout hooks, which for the sake of forum harmony I will keep to myself! LOL!)

The TMC 3769 is about as nice a hook for Spiders as I could want: good shape, strong, sharp point, and easily available. I have used it since it became available in the 1980's and have tied thousands of flies on them with total atisfaction. It is also my go to hook for Sawyer Pheasant Tail nymphs.

[UC Steve]

All considered, I'm with the Japanese favorites for spiders -- in barbless: straight-eye, TMC 2499-BL, or if you prefer the same model in black, BLB; down-eye, TMC 103 BL, or the heavy wire version, 113 BLH; up-eye, TMC 206 BL, or the heavy version, 226 BL.

[Bazzer69]

Anyone ever tried powder coating hooks? I have a small electrostatic powder coating setup and I might give it a try. There are so many colors available but I only have a couple one of which is black! It might be interesting to powder coat to match the color of the silk! A easier way would be to use a Panatone marker pen.
Barry

[Bazzer69]

Anyone any idea what hooks Robert Smith uses in his excellent book The North County Fly?
I would like to replicate some of the flies in the bookplate,
Barry

[letumgo]

Excellent question. I pulled out my copy of Robert's book, but was unable to find the answer in the book. I then did a quick internet search and believe a lot of the flies are tyed on Partridge straight eye Classic Spider hooks (L3AS).

http://www.jsflyfishing.com/partridge-fly-hooks
https://www.johnnorris.co.uk/partridge-l3a-s-classic-spider-hooks.html
http://www.totalflyfisher.com/total-tackle/item/519-partridge-classic-spider-hooks

[Bazzer69]

Thanks to you all on the advice for hooks, you've certainly given me a lot to think about. I'm going to order some Captain Hamilton hooks from Richard Jefferies dispute having one or two dodgy ones in the past. I'm also going to try the Partridge L3AS hook as it appears that is the one Bob Smith uses in his book ( thanks Ray). Hooks are not cheap no I seem to use a lot of them, I've got more flies than I ever really will need, but being a guide, well semi retired guide, I also supply my clients with a lot of flies. I'm fed up with rowing my drift boat and indicator fishing so I'm planning to take more trips using cane rods and soft hackle flies. Here in California end rigging usually consists of a indicator, very long leader and a ton of shot. Not pretty but effective. But I'm into pretty these days and one or three Trout a day satisfies me.
Barry

[flyfud1]

Barry,

Try Tiemco 102Y, japanned finish, limerick bend, odd sizes (15, 17, 19, 21).

Work great for me. Got mine at Blue Ribbon Files.

Charlie

[Greenwell]

Rob Smith used Partridge Model L3AS hooks for the models in his book. However, the flies in the Deluxe edition of The North Country fly are on what appear to be Daiichi 1480's. I believe this because I just sent him a few hundred as he is having some difficulties getting them in the UK. I will ask him and make sure. This is certainly an attractive hook of high quality and I have been dressing some flies on them. They do seem to run small so they take a little getting used to but that isn't a bad thing actually.
I had thought the Partridge L3AS would be a go to spider hook when they came out a few years ago but quality and shape were inconsistent from batch to batch and some had such a soft temper as to be unusable.

[Old Hat]

I align a bit with Greenwell. As far as quality and accessibility I don't think you can beat the TMC 3769 for spiders. I also use the Mustad S80 (3906). The 3769 is 2x heavy and S80 is 3x heavy. I like the Mustad R50 or Owner Mosquito hook for light wire.

My all time favorite for spiders was the TMC 111. But they have become very hard to find. They list them on their site but most places seem to not stock them, at least in the smaller sizes. If you can find them in the smaller sizes get them.

For flymphs and other soft hackles I like the little longer TMC 3761 or the even slightly longer Mustad S82 (3906B).

I, like Greenwell, have not been too impressed with the Partridge spider hooks. Nice to tie on and they look classy but the quality to match is not there.

The only black hook I use is the TMC2499SP. I use that specifically for Stewart's style spiders.