hook question

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Fishnkilts
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hook question

Post by Fishnkilts » Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:33 pm

I have been looking at many of the photo's of the flies on this forum, and I noticed, at least recently, many flies with hooks with an upturned eye.

What's the purpose for it? Does it have any advantages to hooking fish, or does it make the fly float differently in the water?
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Theroe
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Re: hook question

Post by Theroe » Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:35 am

Tradition - Jim and Pete used them; so do we!
Soft and wet - the only way....
daringduffer
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Re: hook question

Post by daringduffer » Tue Apr 14, 2020 9:17 am

Theroe wrote: Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:35 am Tradition - Jim and Pete used them; so do we!
Don't think Jim used them but Pete seemed to be partial to them. Some argue that up eye is helpful when doing the Leisenring Lift.

dd
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hankaye
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Re: hook question

Post by hankaye » Tue Apr 14, 2020 9:17 am

Fishnkilts, Howdy;

Some will argue "hook-set", some will say "tradition" others
will tell ya something else. Each to their own imo,

hank
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949...
"Every day I beat my own previous record for number
of consecutive days I've stayed alive." George Carlin
DUBBN
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Re: hook question

Post by DUBBN » Tue Apr 14, 2020 1:49 pm

Fishnkilts wrote: Mon Apr 13, 2020 8:33 pm I have been looking at many of the photo's of the flies on this forum, and I noticed, at least recently, many flies with hooks with an upturned eye.

What's the purpose for it? Does it have any advantages to hooking fish, or does it make the fly float differently in the water?
I do not think there are any advantages to the up eye. I tried them for a while. I can not say it helped or hurt me when landing or catching fish. I never replaced them when I ran out.
joaniebo
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Re: hook question

Post by joaniebo » Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:47 pm

From "The Book":

"HOOKS
A hook's shape is largely a matter of opinion. Personally,
I prefer a round bend secured for me by
Messeena's of London, England. These hooks leave
nothing to be desired. They may be seen in the photographs
of my flies in the chapter on Fly Patterns and
Dressings. My next choice is a hook which I used to
get from Allcock's in a sproat style: #1810 First Grade
Hol low Point. I have not been able to get these
lately but they are excellent hooks, far superior to
Allcock's # 1810 Best Grade Hollow Point. Of course,
there was sixty cents difference in the price per hundred
but I am not interested in cheapness—it is
quality I am after and I will gladly pay for it.

All hooks for my own use are straight,
without side bends or snecking. If I want them
bent to the side I bend them to suit myself with a pair
of jewelry ers' pincers which I carry in my vest
pocket. Also, I prefer my hooks to have turned-down
eyes."
wsbailey
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Re: hook question

Post by wsbailey » Tue Apr 14, 2020 2:58 pm

Leisenring's "Stone" shows an up eye hook.
joaniebo
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Re: hook question

Post by joaniebo » Tue Apr 14, 2020 3:13 pm

Bill

This should add to the confusion. Maybe Jim Leisenring liked up-eyes and Pete Hidy liked own-eyes. This old pic shows both. Don't remember where I got the pic. Cheers

Bob
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Leisenring & Hidy Flies - 07.jpg
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Mike62
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Location: Northern Maine

Re: hook question

Post by Mike62 » Wed Apr 15, 2020 6:39 am

This sounds like the perfect 'Tutorial: The Furlough Projects'' for Ray. He can don some scuba gear and film underwater sequences using up and down eyed flymphs and chart how they react to tippet control and hook sets.

For whatever reason I tend to crowd the eye when tying on up eye hooks, can't seem to break a bad habit...
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Ron Eagle Elk
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Re: hook question

Post by Ron Eagle Elk » Wed Apr 15, 2020 1:27 pm

For flymphs, I prefer the up eye hooks. Purely aesthetics, on my part. They may, or may not, swim better. I just like them. For all other wets, down eye hooks are the name of the game with the exception of spiders. For spiders, a straight eye hook is my personal preference. How else are the hook manufacturers going to stay in business.
"A man may smile and bid you hale yet curse you to the devil, but when a good dog wags his tail he is always on the level"
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