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haziz

"Competition" Jig Hooks Eye Direction?

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Silly question. Is there a meaningful difference in "competition" (AKA Euro Nymphing) jig hooks, in relation to hook eye direction? For e.g. is there a meaningful difference between these two hooks?

 

 

post-63538-0-50048000-1566471030_thumb.jpg

 

post-63538-0-06054200-1566471052_thumb.jpg

 

 

For what it's worth, my slotted tungsten bead mounts and seats well on both of these hooks. They would be used for some nymph patterns, e.g. "competition" Walt's worm, Frenchie nymph and other nymph patterns. They will be weighted by both a tungsten bead, as well as lead-free wire.

Thanks.

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I tie my flies on with a standard clinch knot. The different eye orientations can have a noticeable effect, since I can slide the knot around, and have it affect the way the fly swims in the water.

 

With vertical eyes, sliding the knot "up" will cause the fly to dive more, sliding it down will cause it to rise to the surface. I actually use this property more on soft plastic bass lures than I do for flies, but it still works on flies.

 

With horizontal eyes, sliding the knot left or right make the fly swim the opposite direction. (knot to the left, lure moves to the right ...)

I've used this to make a lure swim up under docks, etc., when retrieving parallel to it. Again, this works very well with my bass gear, but still affects a fly the same way.

 

Conversely, if the knot is unintentionally "knocked" to those positions, you're fly will react accordingly. In these situations, the vertical eye usually just causes the fly to move up or down. The horizontal eye can produce more spinning, twisting up the tippet/leader.

 

These are MY observations. As texters are prone to say ... "Your mileage may vary". (YMMV)

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hook-eyes.jpg

 

isnt the question

 

"Is there a meaningful difference in "competition" (AKA Euro Nymphing) jig hooks, in relation to hook eye direction?"

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I don't know about y'all, but those vertical hook eyes on the jig hooks give me sooooo much unexpected trouble tying the hook on the line, it's truly mind boggling. I can tie those knots blind and sleeping, but change the eye orientation and whammo, I'm all thumbs.

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While Mikechell's point might be true with larger flies (and only "might"), will not make a bit of difference for all practical purposes on nymphs. Furthermore, if you are using loop knots, then the point is moot.

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