Glenn
The flies I tied cast just fine. Probably as well as a gurgler of the same size.
I used size 2 popper hooks, and bent the shaft to open the gap a bit... just about at the point opposite the hook point
I tried one with a stinger hook, but the foam didn't cover the hook point and it didn't look like it would float right side up, I so I went with the popper hooks (which I have a ton of)
I palmered heavily over the foam tie-in spot, but did not reinforced.
It's probably fairly well protected by the foam 'wings' anyway
I also added some flashabou between the flaired hackles