hook question

[Fishnkilts]

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?

[Theroe]

Tradition - Jim and Pete used them; so do we!

[daringduffer]

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

[hankaye]

Fishnkilts, Howdy;

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

hank

[DUBBN]

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]

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]

Leisenring's "Stone" shows an up eye hook.

[joaniebo]

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

[Mike62]

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...

[Ron Eagle Elk]

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.