hook styles

I just finished checking out all of my hooks and after loking at around a hundred packages to see what was needed I found that I only really needed to replace some in four basic styles. All of the rest had plenty left. I need more basic dry fly hooks in several several sizes as well as some small streamer and nymph hooks and a few wet fly hooks for soft hackles. I have a lot of packages with only a few hooks out of them. I concluded that I have tried tying a lot of fly patterns but usually fish simple flies tied on standard hooks. My question is why does my hook order still include a couple packages of specialty hooks I don't allready have :roll:? This can't be normal.

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Originally Posted by rainbowchaser

My question is why does my hook order still include a couple packages of specialty hooks I don't allready have :roll:? This can't be normal.

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Time for that 12 step program for that compulsive "hooks I just gotta have but I'll never tie on" disorder!!! :) :)

:lol: I am with you Rainbowchaser lol when I go to the store or order hook that I need I always order hook I might use or hook that look interesting because I might one day need them. I always have hook in several size I know when I buy hooks even if I don't need them now my supply of hook would lack them when I needed them.
Ghost.

Rainbowchaser,

Seems we all tend to think that hook 'style' or 'shape' is often more important than it truly is.

How many flies 'really' need a 'special' bend or shape?

Plain old hooks, you know, those sproat, limerick, or aberdeen bend hooks that have worked for a couple of centuries, will work well for just about any fly pattern. All you really need to consider is 'length' of the tying area (wish we could get hook manufacturers to 'list' that for us rather than some arbitrary 'size' that's pretty well meningless).

I'm slowly whittling down my hook variety, going for size range instead of 'type'. I keep lots of Mustad 3366 and 3399 hooks on hand in sizes from 2/0 to 16. These make great bass bugs, pike flies, wet flies, and nymphs.

For dries and smaller nymphs/wets, Mustad 94840 from size 12 to 26. I also have some 'straight eye' Mustads, I think they are 94859, in tiny 22-24-26 which I like for the unobstructed hook gape.

For streamers, I use the 3261 aberdeen hook for buggers and leeches, and the 3191 'carlisle' for streamers that need a long tying area.

If I need a scud shape or a humped shank, I just bend a regular bend hook into that curve. Takes only a few seconds to do.

None of these hooks are expensive, some are down right cheap. All of them catch fish, though.

Good Luck!

Buddy

In any event, the fly nor the fish really care what shape the hook is under the fly. I like to try to keep it simple as I can.

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Originally Posted by rainbowchaser

This can't be normal.

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It's called "over the edge" :lol:
I think there might be a pill.

"Normal" with regard to what sample population?! THAT is the crux of the issue. If it makes you feel any better, I just picked up 5,600 hooks that I had ordered from a local fly shop. (Yes Dr. Fish, they were all Mustads.) If it REALLY makes you feel better, I expect to mail-order another couple of thousand hooks.

I met a new fellow at work yesterday. He played around with flyrods when he was at school in Knoxville, but he never got a rod of his own. I expect that I'll have another fly-tying co-worker by May! Normal? Do you really care. To steal the title of a book from the '70s, "I'm OK, You're OK".

Ed

P.S. I have become fond of using Plano boxes to keep my boxes and packages of hooks in. They line up nicely in the rows and you can insert dividers and everything..... <grinning, gleaming eyes>

<Note: Mr. Dillon has been removed for care and observation. Thank you for your concern.>

[quote="Normand
Time for that 12 step program for that compulsive "hooks I just gotta have but I'll never tie on" disorder!!! :) :)[/quote]

:shock: I think I have that...unfortunately, I also have that " flytying materials I gotta have but have no money to buy" disorder :cry: