Calling Hook Officianados

[Byron haugh]

John,
How would I pay less than the asking price?
Ever use these hooks?

[billyspey]

Cheap is never good and good is never cheap! I think cost to make, or who decided that diamonds ,emeralds or rubes would cost what they do or gold was going to be more expensive than silver. I don't now!

[Allan]

John,
How would I pay less than the asking price?
Ever use these hooks?

I've seen the hooks you seek priced at $7.99/25 and $6.70/25. You'll have to do a search to find price differences. I believe Blue Ribbon had them for the $7.99 price but I don't recall which shop had them for the $6.70 price. To the 2nd question - No.

[Byron haugh]

I'm not seeking them. I have some and just used them.
No good answer on why they are so expensive. I conclude it is because they are "specialty" hooks fron sort of a niche supplier. They seem like very nice hooks for soft hackles, but will probably not buy more.

[Denny]

Byron,

I have been a dealer for Daiichi hooks for many years. I think all of Alex's hooks are made by Daiichi.
At least they are all listed in my Dealers catalog and I have purchased and sold a lot of them.
I have used Daiichi brand hooks only for many years for my personal tying & fishing. I consider them the best on the market. I got fed up with cheap hooks many years ago.
I do have a hard time with those that fish with high priced equipment and want to cut corners on the prices of materials & hooks for tying our flies. I can understand if one is on a limited budget and the need to save $$ because Fly fishin is recreation? The last place I would cut corners is in my hooks.

Since my Full retirement I no longer stock and sell hooks. So the above is not an advertisement for Daiichi hooks. Just calling it like I see it.

Denny

[chewydog]

I do have a hard time with those that fish with high priced equipment and want to cut corners on the prices of materials & hooks for tying our flies.

Agreed 100%. The gear I prefer is high priced. I step into the water with $1k+ of gear and I'm going to save 5 cents by using cheap hooks???

Byron, nice looking hook. I sometimes prefer a short shank to achieve a larger gape in perspective. I use the TMC 921. MFC also makes a 1x short that I haven't tried yet. No answer to your question.

[Byron haugh]

Agreed 100%. The gear I prefer is high priced. I step into the water with $1k+ of gear and I'm going to save 5 cents by using cheap hooks???

Byron, nice looking hook. I sometimes prefer a short shank to achieve a larger gape in perspective. I use the TMC 921. MFC also makes a 1x short that I haven't tried yet. No answer to your question.

Chewy,
I agree!!! I normally use either Dai-Riki or Tiemco hooks or Daiichi or Gamatksu (sp?) or Kamazan(sp?). I would not call them cheap hooks.
These Alec Jackson hooks are obviously good hooks. However, I prefer a longer shank hook for my soft hackles.

[planettrout]

Byron,

I have been using both the Alec Jackson North Country and Soft Hackle hooks for some time now:



Scroll down here and see the complete selection:

http://www.hareline.com/hooks.html

The hackle on the above pattern is dyed starling which comes from White Fox Fur and Feather CO...it is available in a bunch of colors from Bob Marriott's:

http://www.bobmarriottsflyfishingsto...ing-dyed-skins

I get mine from Bob Marriott's here in Los Angeles - they are a bit expensive but worth the price. Like it was previously mentioned, I also don't tie on crappy hooks.I am tying up a series of 18 different Midge patterns presently and will be using these Alec Jackson hooks for some of the ties:





PT/TB

[AlanB]

They look a lot like the Oliver Edwards K14ST hook from Partridge. I don't think those are made now, but some are still around. That is another hook that looks like it will not hold up, but is surprising in its strength for its size. Though, as with all Partridge hooks, they tend to be large for the given size.
Cheers,
A.

[Ray Kunz]

The actual manufacturing cost is a most important a factor. To set up the machines to produce all the unique features has a finite cost.
If these costs are for a short run of fewer hooks the cost per hook will obviously be more.
If you want hooks that cost less you'll have to stay with the more popular ones.