I tie Clousers, Buffy The Striper Slayer, Crappie Candy, the V-Worm, the Soft Hackle Worm, and a few other wet flies with the point up. Also, most Crawfish Patterns are hook up. They work fine, and help keep you from losing so many flies when fishing in and around cover, and structure, mainly for bass.
Semper Fi!
The keel hook is one method, but I’m not sure if keel hooks are still available. I have a supply of my own that I won’t part with. I use them for various shad, streamer, and nymph patterns. If you can’t find them, it’s easy enough to make them with from a 6XL hook. At about a point 60% of the hook length from the bend of the hook bend the shank toward the hook point at a 45? angle and then at another 20% from this point bend the hook shank in the opposite direction at a 45? angle. The proportions should be 60%:20%:20%. The point of the hook should be at a 5-10? angle from the keel of the hook so that the point is not in line with the front 20% of the hook and allows easier fish hookups.
The other method is to use something like an TMC 8089 and bend the front 10-15% of the hook away from the hook gap creating a bendback. If you tie on barbell eyes to the back of the bendback or tie in the material in the vise opposite the way you would tie a normal fly, the fly should ride hook point up. Test it in a slant box or a container of water to be sure how it will ride. If it doesn’t ride correctly, add a bit of weight to the keel or bottom shank of the hook.
A trick for bucktail or streamer patterns is to increase the length of the beard past the hook point to act as a weed guard. Alternately, a trick that I’ve used for patterns like a black nosed dace or mickey fin is to change the placement of the bottom or first bundle of bucktail. Instead of tying it to the top of the hook, wrap it so that it is on the bottom of the hook acting as a natural weedguard. I’ve done this with a lot of patterns and it does affect the appearance slightly, but not enough to change their effectiveness.
Tight Lines,
Mike
Hey JC, that’s a sweet design.
I built a handful of seatrout flies last year - USD CDC&Elk’s for low water work, skimming over weedbeds.
Then I thought it was new.
Great minds hey.
best to y’all
Roy