the_chemist
Life of the Party
What do you prefer and for what? Eye up, down, straight?
Hook eye angle: does it matter?
- Thread starter the_chemist
- Start date
Depends on how you are fishing. I generally strip streamers, so straight for me.
SF
SF
I have been doing this for far longer than a good many of you have been alive. If you are pursuing this sport to maximize the number of fish you catch I hope you some day come to the realization that the number you drag up on the bank is far less the priority than the fulfillment you achieve by simply going through the process in a manner that respects the resource.
the_chemist
Life of the Party
Right. I tie a lot of my streamers on an eye angled toward the point. Seem to work just fine. Eye toward the point would be more ideal of a jigging presentation i would think.
I'm typically a tie with whatever material I have around and make it work kind of guy. There are people on this forum that are much more passionate about the tying aspect of this sport I was hoping would chime in. Something along the lines of
People use hook eye up for XYZ presentations because of ABC.
Eye down ect.
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At over 60 years of tying flies I've amassed a pretty wide range of hooks, and simply select a hook sorta based on shape and size I think will work. I had enough fussy projects in my worklife, and never wanted to add flytying and flyfishing to that list. I also freely substitute fly pattern materials with those I think will work...which has often resulted in variants that are at least as effective (or more so) than the 'official' fabrication list.
I do, however, much prefer modern barbless hooks regardless of eye orientation because it's a hell of lot easier to extract a barbless hook than those with pinched down barbs and at least 50% of the time the fish no longer possesses the fly during the netting process. Or even better.... experience an LDR.
I'll add that I use forceps with integral scissor blades so I can instantly snip the tippet once I believe the fly can't be easily removed. I don't give a shit about losing a fly. I've caught fish with embedded flies that seem to be feeding just fine.
I do, however, much prefer modern barbless hooks regardless of eye orientation because it's a hell of lot easier to extract a barbless hook than those with pinched down barbs and at least 50% of the time the fish no longer possesses the fly during the netting process. Or even better.... experience an LDR.
I'll add that I use forceps with integral scissor blades so I can instantly snip the tippet once I believe the fly can't be easily removed. I don't give a shit about losing a fly. I've caught fish with embedded flies that seem to be feeding just fine.
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I prefer to just use the hook in the pattern book or I see being used in the video. I figure they have already figured out the best choice for the purpose. If I don't have the exact style or size I'll pick something close.
The more I fish, the less I think I know. Overall I just don't have many varied experiences to try and be the smart/creative one.
The more I fish, the less I think I know. Overall I just don't have many varied experiences to try and be the smart/creative one.
