Honey Bug?

All about flies Fly Tying
1

Hello, Can someone tell me what hook Paul Berger used to tie his Honey Bugs?

Thanks, Jim

2

This from the Competitive Angler site - "The original Honeybug was tied with the standard size on a #12 Mustad 3906 hook" ; I’ve also seen a Mustad 94840 mentioned.

Regards,
Scott

3

Scott, It seems as though Berger tied his Honey Bugs on the Mustad 3906 or 3906B. But I can’t be sure. I was recently at the PA Fly Fishing museum where Berger has a Honey Bug display. In this display is a pack of Mustad 3399D hooks. These hooks are the same as the 3906 but is a light wire dry fly hook. So I’m just not sure.

Jim

4

Jim,

If it’s a matter of historical accuracy I can see your dilemma; hopefully, someone with more info will chime in. From a fishing perspective, whatever hook you use won’t make much difference to the fish.

Regards,
Scott

5

6

Scott, I generally tie this fly on the 3906B or an equivalent. I am just curious for historical reasons. The hooks pictured in the kit look to be Mustad 3906 or similar.

Jim

7

Jim,

Thanks for the pic of the kit; neat to see the materials and instructions. When I tied Green Weenies (similar to the Honey Bug), I used 3906Bs.

Regards,
Scott

8

All of the suggested nymph hooks (3906, 3906B, and 3399) have down-turned eyes. The Kit drawings clearly show an up-eye hook like the 94840.

I would suggest the venerable dry fly hook would be the closest to historically accurate.

The heavier hooks may fish better under lots of conditions?

9

Mustad 94840 is a turned-down eye hook, as well. I think you mean the 94842.

Regards,
Scott

10

OOooopppsss! You are correct.