Calling Hook Officianados

[Byron haugh]

... what the perceived ( or actual ) advantages are with these Alec Jackson hooks ??

Also, an observation - as in most things fly tying, it is a matter of scale.

The Johnson hooks shown cost $7.99 for 25. That's $.32 per hook.

Dai-Riki 125s are quite similar and are regularly available at $5.95 for 50. That's $.12 per hook.

The cost differential is probably similar across the entire line of hooks available from each of those manufacturers.

If you fish a little, the $.20 per hook difference doesn't add up to much.

But say you fish 125 days a year and go through an average of four flies per outing. That $.20 per hook difference would add up to $100 over the course of a year.

Over the course of four years, with those savings you could just about buy a brand new pair of top of the line waders - like the Simms Guide that run about $450 and should last about four years of 125 fishing days ( assuming you spend a fair number of days wet wading and not putting wear on the waders - but are still using up four flies a day ).

Fishing 140 days last year, mostly with flies tied on Dai-Riki or comparably priced hooks, I didn't lose a single fish ( out of well over 2,500 hooked ) because of a defective hook.

So I ask again - what are the perceived ( or actual ) advantages with these Alec Jackson hooks ??

John

John,
That was my point!!
I originally asked " why are they so expensive" as I didn't see a big difference except that they are quite light wire.......
And, I don't cut corners on my hooks because of price!!!!
I just wondered why they were comparatively so much more. I have NEVER had a problem with the other hooks I use. I took an inventory. I use Tiemco hooks, Partridge hooks, Gamakatsu, Daiichi, and Orvis hooks. I also have some Dai-Riki hooks.
I certainly don't try to "cut corners" with my hooks. My original post simply asked why the Alec Jackson hooks command a premium. And, the 2 packages I purchased were their "soft hackle" hooks which I find too short in the shank for my preferences as I am trying to imitate insects in the #16 to #14 size range in a standard dry fly hook shank length - to the extent there IS a standard length. The Jackson hooks I purchased are size "13 and 15".
I have fished soft hackles a great deal for many, many years. I try to tie mine in the length of the insect I am imitating.....................