hoboflyfisher,

If RRhyne doesn?t mind, I?ll take the liberty of trying to answer your question about bend-backs.

First, of course, there a many instructions with pictures on the web for making a bend-back hook and tying with it. You can also purchase bend-back hooks.

Here?s how I do it:

Use a straight eye hook. With a pair of pliers (two pair for heavy iron hooks), bend the hook eye and a length of the shank slightly up and away from the hook point. The length of shank between the bend and the eye needs to be at least enough to tie the head of the fly. I typically use anywhere from one to three eye lengths depending on the need. The bend is very slight. The hook point should remain well above the plane of the eye to retain its ?hook setting? ability.

Bend-back bucktails are a favorite of mine. The bucktail hair helps make the bend-back a bit more weedless.

Hope this helps.