Who makes the longest streamer hooks (straight eye)

[JSzymczyk 0]

Then the next guy who comes along will say a TDE gives better action. I read it on the internet, so it must be true.

[Adam Saarinen 0]

I just heard the TDE gives a better action!

[josephcsylvia 0]

Kelly Galloup mentions he believes the straight eye gives better action. So I decided to use the same he does.

If you attach via a loop knot would that make the type of eye irrelevant?

[tidewaterfly 0]

 

 

If you attach via a loop knot would that make the type of eye irrelevant?

 

IMO it does. I prefer the straight eye hooks, primarily because I tie a lot of large sizes & often use worm hooks, but have tied a lot of streamers on down eye hooks too & some with up eye, most of the time using a loop knot to attach them to my tippets. Can't say I've noticed any difference between any of them as far as action.

[heavynets 0]

IMO loop knots are irrelevant. The current or the stripping action pulls the streamer back. This keeps side to side movement to a minimum. When I observe bait fish, they don't move side to side when being pursued. Minnows only move side to side when basically staying in one place. Streamers don't stay in one place, they simulate a forward moving bait fish.

 

The now popular tube flies never use a loop knot. So how important is it?

[Ed Gallop 0]

What you are tying and what is the hook size?.

 

As for up, down, or straight eye hooks... There have been many studies but no good evidence one way or the other. A straight, up, or down eye on a fly under water will not change the fly's action but it might with setting and holding of the hook, especially with large saltwater, salmon or steelhead flies. I tie on a down eye for most all of the larger flies. There are hooks that are longer than normal with smaller size hooks, such as Mustad's cricket bait hooks. I think they are straight eye but they are not over size 8 or 10. I doubt very much a straight eye would be any better than a down eye for average fishing.

 

Some say if tension is above the shank on an up eye and will drive the point up and away (I don't believe it). If the tension is below the shank it would appear to drive the point down and in for a better grip. That is assuming the shank is the focal point. I've heard that an up eye on a dry fly will help keep the tippet from sinking but I've fished the same fly on ups and downs and can't tell the difference. For saltwater, salmon or steelhead flies I do prefer a down eye. Up eyes look nice on certain traditional fancy flies so I do use them often. I don't think the eye direction matters much if at all. I do like the looks of a straight eye on some patterns but I tie on down eyes for most flies.

[vicente 0]

Not technically a streamer hook but the 3/0 Mustad Beak Hook ref# 92611-NI is 2.25 inches long pretty big offset but they straighten well I use them for big bass poppers.

[agn54 0]

If you ned such a long shank, how about a tube fly? You make the tube as long as you want

[tidewaterfly 0]

Eagle Claw also makes a long shank hook similar to the Mustad Beak Hook ref# 92611-NI that vicente mentioned, the model # is 066 and they make them in various finishes, nickel, tinned & stainless. I like them for pencil poppers and Crease flies, and don't bother bending them. The offset point doesn't create any problems & IMO improves hook ups. I primarily use them in open water, so catching grass & other debris is not an issue either. I've tied streamer patterns on them too, but mostly for Bluefish.

[Losthwy 0]

If you ned such a long shank, how about a tube fly? You make the tube as long as you want

I've heard of them but didn't know what they were. So i watched a video. Interesting. I'm trying to get the length and movement without going to an articulated fly. I'll check into them more. At the end of the video I saw the tier put a soft tube on. They might have the movement I'm looking for.

Thanks

[tidewaterfly 0]

One thing about tubes, and I've only tied a few, you can tie them short & thread a couple on a line when rigging to get any length you want especially if you tie them "in the round", which means they look the same from any angle.

 

This is a very simple tube fly I tied a couple weeks ago, "in the round" just to try them. It could certainly be improved, but as you can see if I was to tie the same pattern & add several of them together it would make a sizable fly. It's about 3" long.

The tube on this one is plastic & about 3/4" long. The back end of the tube is exposed enough for a piece of flexible tubing to be added which would hold the hook.

 

[David Parker 0]

From my searches the Mustad 9674 is no longer available is size 1.

I have been tying with the last of my old 9674's and wanted to buy more for future, but the Mustad site shows that size 1 is no longer available.

Please correct me if I am wrong for I'll need to look for an alternative hook.

I too prefer straight eye hooks.

[Ed Gallop 0]

You haven't answered my questions so apparently do not know the pattern or hook size. I don't even know the action you are looking for. It would be easier to help if I had the answer. I have an Oregon friend, Ronn Lucas, that makes tailored hooks to specifications. I'm not at home, so don't have his info, but if you google his name you will find him. "Ronn Lucas fly hooks" should do it.

 

Tube flies are usually always tied in the round and they have no specific action. I've tried tying traditional patterns on tubes but they look like crap. In the round looks great. Tubes make great bass flies and also excellent saltwater flies with a stainless wire as bite guards. Bluefish was my objective and they hold up well with their sharp teeth. The fly will sometimes slip away from the hook and fish's mouth during a fight which helps make it last longer. They work well with steelhead and Alaskan salmon as well as big Canadian northern pike.

 

Tubes will give you length but not action. If you are going for a wobble you might look into Pettijean's magic heads. They look like hollowed out cones that are clear and flexible, sort of like ear plugs. They will not fit on tubes but you may be able to use large ear plugs for headsets or shooting protection by enlarging the center hole to fit on a tube to get a wobble action.

[Ed Gallop 0]

Bu the way... The short soft tube is to hold the hook in place, concealed by the material, and does not provide any action at all. The idea of tubes is that the fly will disengage from the hook. When the fish fights by running to the side or in the opposite direction of the tension, the fly will move up the line and way from the fish's mouth and teeth. The fly will last longer. If you can't get the action you want by the rod then you are likely looking for a wobble or darting back and forth, like an artificial lure. You will need to get this at the head of the fly, with a spoon or reverse cone.

[tidewaterfly 0]

Good info Ed! I had mentioned tying tubes "in the round" because I have seen some that were not.

 

Dave Parker, that's a possibility as Mustad has made not only style changes but many size changes too and have discontinued sizes in many styles. If the old style is OK with you then you may want to check Ebay & grab up any that you can. I have some in a couple sizes & don't tie on them often, so my supply should last me awhile. Actually most of those I have are in the old paper Mustad boxes, so they're really old.