Hook point positions

I working a few patterns that I’d like to keep the hook point up so when it’s casted out, or fishing along the bottom, the hook point will stay up instead of down. Is there any special tricks or technique to do this?

thx’s

Mike

I would put a little bit of weight along the top part of the hook shank. Just my 2 cents John

You might like to try a bend back style fly
Many bucktails and even some topwater flies can be made (mostly) weedless this way
One of my favorite weedless flies is a bend-back Dahlberg diver
This is a bend back silver doctor

Try tying your flies in a Clouser manner or crimping a split shot in the ofset spot of the hook shank of a popper fly hook. This would give you a little extra downside offset.

thanks for the tips, I like that bend back hook style, looks like it’ll do the trick too, do you happen to know who makes those ??

Mike

If you wanted weight, you could add lead eyes clouser style about 1/3 of the way down on the top of the shank for minnow imitations. Or for larger nymphs, buggers and crayfish, and shrimp crab stuff for salt water, using a small unpainted lead dumbbell closer to the eye of the hook on the top of the shank.:
http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/112700fotw.php

You can also tie unweighted stuff to ride hook point up like Dudley pointed out.
You could tie a bend back using a TMC 411S or bending your own. I use regular Mustad SW hooks (3407 or 34007). It’s easy to do, just don’t over do it.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4421272_tie-bendback-fly.html

As far as I know Mustad still makes a keel hook, for streamers that ride hook point up, (they were all the rage in the 70?s). Look for 79666S, but they may be hard to find.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mustad-79666S-Saltwater%2FKeel-fly-hooks-_W0QQitemZ400010160316QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20081118?IMSfp=TL081118117007r36193

Or you could use a 60 degree worm hook, like an Eagle Claw 410-413, or a Gami or Owner hook:
http://globalflyfisher.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136&view=previous&sid=813002957b09b945a6a3dfec4648460f

good luck!
peregrines

I like that how-to you posted, ehow.com, that’ll be very helpful! I also found these on Ebay in case anyone else maybe interested in these hooks.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Keel-Hooks-25-pk-sz-12-10-8-6-4-2_W0QQitemZ150302764990QQihZ005QQcategoryZ44914QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262#ebayphotohosting

Thx’s
Mike

The easiest way I’ve found to assure the hook point rides up is to use a curved shank scud hook like a TMC 2457 or 2487. Adding weight to the shank such as wrapping lead or lead substitute wire around it will flip the hook point up every time. Nearly any nypmph pattern could be tied using this hook.