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Has anyone evaluated the merits of simply modifying a regular 6XL hook with a single bend close to the hook eye as an alternative to the keel hook shape. they result in an up-eye hook but it seems to assume the proper attitude under water to provide the weedless character. I'd like to tie some for this spring but don't want to be wasting my time.
Ray,
Absolutely!
That's hwere the first 'keel' hooks came from. Somebody 'bent' a hook to the shape they wanted.
By the way, many of the hooks made for lead head jigs already have that 'bend' in them, available in several different angles, and I've had great results tying flies for bass on them. They cerainly ride 'hook up' and tend to be pretty snag resistant.
I'm always bending hooks, it seems. I have lots of 'standard' hooks on hand, and if I need an odd shape, I often find it's just easier to bend the hook myself rather than try to find (and pay for) some odd hook shape.
After playing with this for a while, you'll be amazed at how simple and efficient this can be. Most 'odd' hook shapes are only a very little different from the standard, and it usually only takes a very slight adjustment. I can turn a 'standard' wet fly hook into a 'scud' bend in about three seconds....
Good Luck!
Buddy
A fly tied in the manner your talking about is called a bendback streamer and works very well. If you find that you are missing strikes with them bend the hook point up a little to provide more clearance.
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all leaders tangle; mine are just better at it than most. Jim
The bendback is a great style not only for streamers but for diver style flys also.
Makes the fly weedless without the use of wire or mono weed guards.
Ray,
I have my own keel hook supply, but tell people how to bend their own. You take a 6XL hook and the back 60% of the entire hook is the keel. At that 60% point bend the shank at a 45? angle up toward the hook point. At a point another 20% forward, bend the shank back down at a 45? angle parallel to the keel shank. That will leave you with a 60:20:20 ratio of the keel:up bend:forward shank and eye. Make sure that you open the hook bend just slightly so that the hook point forms a 5-10? angle away from the shank. This opens the gap and allows for easier hooking. If you use my proportions, the shank at the front should be slightly below the point before you even open the bend.
FWIW
[This message has been edited by Flyrodder55 (edited 13 February 2006).]