Curve Hooks

[WYKnot 0]

I am a big fan of curved hooks for my emerger patterns. They allow the fly to sit lower in the surface film if suspended, better representing the posture of a surface-emerging insect. The shape may also add more erratic drift when fished further down in the water column. I do not know if added motion in a subsurface pattern is a more life-like presentation or not, but the trout seem to fall for it fairly regularly. Purely from an aesthetic view, the curved hook shank helps convey a sense of movement to an emerger pattern; perhaps offering the fish something different once they are savvy in fly box entomology. And emergers, in my view, are all about animation on the hook.

 

I particularly like the curved shank of the Tiemco 2487; it allows patterns to be tied further down the bend, effectively making the tying area a little longer. I tie a transitional shuck (term from Schollmeyer and Leeson, Tying Emergers) on the 2487, extending the trailing shuck into the bend. Transitional shuck designs have a lot going on (materials, length, confusion) and benefit from a longer hook shank; either from using a larger hook size or extending the pattern around the bend. It is a darn good caddis pattern.

 

Other curved hook addicts out there...?

[VERN-O 0]

Wynot....I find myself using the curved hooks for everything.....I tie almost all my steelhead nymphs on TMC 2457......then the 200r is my absolute favorite for flymphs........emerges almost always get the 200r by me.....klinks and once+aways......I find myself tying everything on these two style hooks

 

great looking fly posted above by the way......I love the photography portion as well

 

:headbang: :headbang: curved hooks or die :headbang: :headbang:

[WYKnot 0]

I like the 200R, from Stimulators and Hoppers, to caddis in the smaller sizes.

[riffleriversteelheadslayer 0]

I use the mustad 37140 all around for emergers and for some swimming nymphs trout seem to really hit hard on them even if they aren't hitting a flat pattern here is a pic of the hook

[Fly_guy_stu 0]

I'm a fan of curved hooks. They always seem to hold well and are nice to hook with, i'm malso a fan of circles, ony had a few fish on them but they're nice and easy to release with.

 

stu

[WYKnot 0]

I use the mustad 37140 all around for emergers and for some swimming nymphs trout seem to really hit hard on them even if they aren't hitting a flat pattern here is a pic of the hook

 

I use the Mustad 37160 for a hare's ear emerger; heavy duty wire, unique swimming nymph shape, big hook (a size 20 is MUCH larger than a curved scud hook size 20).

[maddog48 0]

I have more different styles of hooks than I care to admit to. Sometimes I like an up-eye and sometimes a straight eye. I have the 200R's, 2457 and 2487, 2488's a few Mustad 37160's, a Montana Fly Company up-eye and a hook by Lightning Strike (which I think is a Wapsi/Targus hook). I try to tie certain patterns in all 3 eye styles just to see which works the best. Out of the box ... possibly. Out of my mind ... definitely.

 

 

Mike

[CTBUGGER 0]

the 200r like most here, is my favorite for most of my nymphs, i just wish it was a little stronger sometimes.

[WYKnot 0]

the 200r like most here, is my favorite for most of my nymphs, i just wish it was a little stronger sometimes.

I have had a few break or straighten out in smaller sizes 18-20, but the larger hooks have been stout enough.

[CTBUGGER 0]

ive broken 2...or 3 200r hooks while tying, and let me tell you, there is nothing more frustrating than getting 3/4 through a fly and have a hook break. :wallbash:

[WYKnot 0]

ive broken 2...or 3 200r hooks while tying, and let me tell you, there is nothing more frustrating than getting 3/4 through a fly and have a hook break. :wallbash:

 

Agree...unless it is tying an entire fly and then noticing the hook eye is incomplete (missing) or malformed beyond repair...grrrrr

[Kevin D. Compton 0]

(IMO the TMC 200r (and Daiichi 1270) has too narrow a gap -- is easily obstructed and leads to fewer hook-ups.)

 

Some other curved-shank emerger hooks:

 

TMC 206BL:

 

 

Gamakatsu's new emerger hook:

 

 

Knapek Barbless Grub Hook:

 

 

Partridge Klinkhammer Hook (which works well for the curvature of an ascending midge pupa -- below):

 

 

 

Partridge K14ST Oliver Edwards Silver-plated Emerger Hook: