Does anyone know of a source for English made fly tying hooks?
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Does anyone know of a source for English made fly tying hooks?
Warren,Quote:
Originally Posted by WarrenP
Sprite closed its doors recently - and to my knowledge that was the last standing English hook making company.
There were, maybe are, some plans to return Partridge hook making to the UK by the company owner - so who knows :cool:
Cheers,
Hans W
Thanks everyone - that information gives me a place to start. I do appreciate it.....
Warren,
Are you looking specifically for hooks manufactured in England or English style hooks which may be manufactured elsewhere?
English make hooks if they exist.....
You mean, Partridge, Edgar Seeley, Bergman, Redditch or Allcocks?
An article I am reading states that the same size hook of English make will be made from a finer wire than our hooks and I was curious and thought maybe I would do a comparison. I am not looking for a particular brand because, in the article, no brand was named. It just stated that "our" hooks are made from softer wire which requires a larger diameter to maintain strength and English make hooks are as strong but finer wire.
I don't really understand you saying our hooks. We here in the US make no hooks. I will tell you this I do have a handsome collection of vintage English hooks and they are of finer diameter then the hooks used today, dry fly that is. They are also sized differently.
Most old timers, forty years used Mustads, made in Sweden. The only hooks made here in the States as far as I know are Eagle Claw and they are heavier.
The article states that most tyers use Mustad hooks because they are most readily available but they are made of softer wire and thus are made of larger wire than the same size hooks of English make.
Hi Warren,
Chris Helm at Whitetail Flytying has Brittish as well as Irish brands of hooks. he has his catalog online so you might want to check there to see if he has what you need. Chris is pretty good about being able to order stuff if it is something he doesn't have in stock.
Hope this helps and that you are enjoying summer. Gerri
gerri,
Thank you for that info. I am not trying to fulfill a "need" at this point. I enjoy fly fishing and fly tying so much that I am constantly researching this great sport to get as much out of it as I can. I enjoy hearing/reading about the many techniques that others, who also enjoy this sport, are using in nymph fishing. I have nothing against dry fly fishing and will do that at times while fishing, but, just do not enjoy that technique as much as using flies that are to be used sub-surface. Both techniques are a great way to enjoy fly fishing. In this particular case, I am just researching what the author stated because I am one who likes to check out "both sides" of a statement before deciding whether or not I should change my technique to gain even more enjoyment from my fly tying and fishing. I know that when I look at Han's flies here on FAOL, I am impressed with the hooks he uses. At the present time I tie all my flies on Lightening Strike hooks and cannot say that I am not satisfied with them. They have performed well for me and before using them I tied all my flies on Mustad hooks and had no problems with them. I switched to Lightening Strike only because my local fly shop no longer carried the Mustad hooks but could order them for me if I wanted them, but, rather than wait for an order to come in, I chose to try the brand they carry and had no problems with them. I have a habit, while fishing, to constantly check my hook points and will sharpen them as needed. Through a "bartering" deal here on FAOL with another member, I received some jig hooks using the "sickle" hooks and am very impressed with the thin hook diameter and the fantastic hook point which is very sharp and seems to hold that point very well. I guess I am just thinking that a smaller diameter wire and very sharp hook point would "set" easier on the strike and that interests me.
Maybe I read too much but I do enjoy fly tying and fishing so much and this type of research and interest keeps me going.....: )
Warren,
Unless someone can correct me with current facts, there are no more hooks made in the UK today. With the closure of Sprite, that chapter is over and out.
Any UK made hooks out there therefor have to be old stock.
When Mustad took over Partridge, they soon relocated the making of all Partridge hooks to the far east. Initially to a plant in Malaysia, and then to a huge state of the art plant in mainland China. The move away from the very "victorian" Redditch plant resulted in a big boost in quality and quality control - in spite of what some more nostalgia oriented minds may suggest.
Sprite continued to produce hand made hooks in the UK, until their recent closure. These were high quality hooks, but limited output in quantity, and limited in models.
Cheers,
Hans W
After looking at Byron's link, I found Turrall's webite http://www.turrall.com/productPage.asp?cid=29
They claim their hooks are made in England. I know nothing about the hooks or the company.
Jay,Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayatwork
I looked at the link - where did you see England made?
Cheers,
Hans W
It's in the "About us" section.
Thanks Jay,Quote:
Originally Posted by Jayatwork
I see it listed. Interesting - as I said, pretty sure no makers left in operation in England. Either I am incorrect, or that statement in "about us" is no longer current.
Cheers.
Hans W
If they have hooks which were made in England, whether new stock, or old stock, would that not fit your need Warren?
Thanks,
Byron
Yes, all the information that has been provided will handle my question and I do appreciate all your help. Thanks
Hi Warren,
Could you mention where you read that article?
Regards,
Mark
Mark Vendon,
I could but I do not feel it provides anything but the writer's personal opinion and nothing more. I was just curious and thought I would purchase a few hooks and see what my personal opinion was.
Eagle Claw comes to mind.Quote:
Originally Posted by narcodog
I think that's what I said...Quote:
Originally Posted by gordo7
I sent an email to Turrall and received the following answer, para phrasing. They are still tying their flies on Sprite hooks but since Sprite has stopped manufacturing they will in the future go with a chemical sharpened hooks, brand unknown at this time.
Darn spid reedin.....Quote:
Originally Posted by narcodog
narcodog: Why do you contradict yourself about hooks made in the USA?
I don't see any contradiction.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Kunz
You say "no hooks are made in the USA" and then you say "Eagle Claw are mad in the USA".
I stated that the only hooks made in the States were Eagle Claw