What's your favorite hook?

[Bazzer69]

I agree the TMC 900BL is a nice hook, not the strongest but let's remember most soft hackle fishing is done on streams with not so large fish and having a very strong steelhead strength hook is not needed. I prefer a nice looking fly so my choice of hook would be more based on looks!
Barry

[Old Hat]

I think a couple of have alluded to this...we all want a quality hook in manufacturing and hooking. There are quite a few brands out there that can accomplish that task today. But, as one that has tied for many years, I also like a hook that inspires me. The hook is not just a platform to tie a pattern on or just a sharp piece of metal to hold fish to me, although these must be top quality to assure it's purpose. I like the hook to be an integral part of the pattern that I use it for, functional and aesthetic. It's a small piece of the joy I get from tying and fishing.

To partially answer why I like Tiemco over Daiichi. It's not the price point. I don't make a living at fly fishing, If I did, cost would certainly play a bigger role in the selection process. It is not as much of a hooking or quality issue either, Daiichi simply doesn't have any hook styles that "inspire" me.

[gingerdun]

like the hook to be an integral part of the pattern that I use it for, functional and aesthetic. It's a small piece of the joy I get from tying and fishing. It's not the price point. I don't make a living at fly fishing, If I did, cost would certainly play a bigger role in the selection process. It is not as much of a hooking or quality issue either, Daiichi simply doesn't have any hook styles that "inspire" me.

Carl, As a designer, this makes sense to me. Would you be willing to give examples of hooks whose design is inspiring? Are they sometimes traditional, and sometimes modern designs?
Lance

[Old Hat]

Sure I can put together a list. There are classic and modern designs that I like. Although, my preferences are certainly going to be different than others. I'll go through some and post them.

[Bazzer69]

Actually I’ve persevered with the old Captain Hamilton and they are pretty good, but when I smash the barb down a good number of the break. I’ve now have some of the new Partridge L3AS spider hooks which I really like, I couldn’t buy them locally so I had to order online.

[DOUGSDEN]

Barry,
There are simply too many. Therefore, they are all my favorites! Some of them have very classic lines and characteristics that I like for the fish that I annoy! One thing lately that I have been insisting on is buying them barbless whenever possible or smashing the barbs down on the current stock that I have! It makes sense and it definitely makes a difference!
With thoughts from the den,
Dougsden

[hankaye]

Bazzer69, Howdy;

Awhile ago and then some, Ruard had posted that he heats the hook tip before mashing the barb to prevent breakage.
Perhaps if yo PM him he can tell you more.

hank

[Ruard]

Hi Hank,

I never heathen the point of the hook, only the eye to prevent it from braking when i make the hook eye straight to the hook.

If you press down the point of the hook, you must not held the hook and the pair of tongs square of each other but on one line so you can press the barb down without breaking the point.

Greeting

Ruard

[hankaye]

Ruard, Howdy!

Yes, now that you have corrected me it was the eyes you had talked about.
As the young folks aay ... my bad

Thanks for including the bit about being in-line with the hook when smashing
the barb.

hank

[Bazzer69]

Hi Hank,

I never heathen the point of the hook, only the eye to prevent it from braking when i make the hook eye straight to the hook.

If you press down the point of the hook, you must not held the hook and the pair of tongs square of each other but on one line so you can press the barb down without breaking the point.

Greeting

Ruard

Yep, I’ve mashed down thousands of barbs in my twenty three years of guiding. I’ve never had a problem before the old Partridge Captain Hamilton hooks. Mine are just plain brittle, a result of over tempering I imagine. I did once have a batch of cheap hooks breaking, after that all my flies were tied with high quality hooks. Incidentally, most commercially tied flies are constructed on cheap hooks. No also test a few hooks to the point of destruction. Most bend and twist and never break. Not so with the old hooks. Still, most of my soft hackle fishing is for smaller fish and hook strength is not a issue
Thanks
Barry