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5wtwithorangebacking

fouling articulated flies

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From one of the innovators in articulated fly design:

 

 

Getting the right amount of slack out of the connection is very important in limiting fouling - this is underemphasized in many of the articulated streamer tying videos. I would also recommend using something other than Fireline to make the connection. I personally prefer 30# mono, which is plenty stiff as well as cheap and readily available. Beadalon (available from craft stores) or bite wire are favored by many others.

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Stupid question here....Can you use a treble hook for the rear hook when creating an articulating fly? Would a treble hook create fouling?

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There are no stupid questions. However, I have seen some stupid answers. As for the treble hook, no reason why not but better question is why? I would definitely increase the probability of fouling unless you kept the link plenty stiff, then you lose some of the reason for articulating. Besides, a single hook will have a bigger gape, hook and hold better than a treble. Also, an articulating fly is a big and clumsy thing to whip by your head at high speed so why add the number of points that could penetrate your rod or you flesh on an errant cast.

 

So in answer to your question, there is no reason you can't use a treble (except specified waters) but I don't see a good reason to myself, and see some negatives that aren't being outweighed by positives.

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If trebles are allowed then they work just the same as a double or single. They shouldn't make fouling worse if the materials and structure of the fly are good.

If you use very soft mobile materials they are more prone to tangling around a hook. Hackles, synthetics or bucktails are all good to hold up a softer material and reduce tangling. Personally I dont think you need treble hooks when using an extended fly. The singles will hook just as well and not snag on everything else like trebles are prone to.

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It would, in theory, be heavier than a single hook, and more likely to foul. But if you use a stiff material it shouldn't be a problem.

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Thanks fellows for clearing that up for me! I mostly fish for bass and pan fish...Don't think a treble would be good for trout fishing...LOL

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Fouling is usually considered an issue with the materials being wrapped around the hook. Some materials would likely foul more with a treble than with a single or double hook.

 

A treble would be more prone to a snagging issue on whatever is in the water or on the bottom compared to a single hook. Even a double hook could be positioned so the hook points are up to limit snagging the bottom, but no matter how you position a treble there's going to be a point that can snag. At least short of removing a point, but then that would defeat using the treble anyway.

 

I used to tie an articulating Barracuda fly commercially of my own design, which was a Needlefish imitation. It had 2 single hooks, or I sometimes I used a treble on the rear. Different application, so the treble rarely snagged. Those flies are cast then retrieved extremely fast, and with each strip the fly would wiggle like crazy. Rarely are they near the bottom.

 

If I was tying articulating flies for bass or trout, I would use the method that Mr. Galloup shows to limit the rear hooks moving & fouling. For Barracuda I used a single strand of stainless wire, which positioned the rear hook far enough back to prevent fouling & created the length I wanted. The Barracuda flies were about 8" in length. smile.png

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I use treble hooks on my pencil poppers and crease flies that are tied on single articulated shanks. I use the long shanks, maybe I should think about doing a jointed one. If you are using buck tail or other stiff material it's not much of an issue. Marabou or feathers might be a problem. I use split rings to attach the hooks and the barbs are crushed. Which makes it easier to untangle the material if it happens and easier to get out if you do have a problem.

 

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