Salmon Fly Question

What pattern and hook size would you select for the first feather winged Atlantic salmon fly you wanted to attempt?

Deezel

Deez, this depends on the size of materials & what fly you want to tie. Something like a Durham Ranger, I'd do in 3/0. Mostly because you can get the feel for a larger fly, and the way to tie the feathers on a bit more easily than a smaller hook. Shoot me your address & I'll send you a hook & piece of gut for the eye. Jamie

Jamie,

Thanks for the suggestion and the offer. I am pretty sure, barring the 'real' exotics, I have all the materials I need for that pattern or most others for that matter. It's not necessary for me to tie on blind eye hooks so, while I appreciate the offer, I'll pass.

Thanks again.

Deezel

Deezel
Tyeing a full feather wing Atlantic on a blind eye is easier then not., once tying in the gut eye gives you a nice base to tye in the wing.
Ghost.

Actually, a loop eye salmon hook gives a better flattened base to tye a wing on. Since the gut is tyed to the bottom of the hook, you still have a single wire on top to balance the wing on. No big deal for a tyer of salmon flies, but certainly easier on a loop return eyed hook. CJ