Dave: thanks. I will likely fall back on the TMC 518s -- nobody seems
to be carrying Varivas anymore. Too bad, the gape was a lot larger
than the TMCs or other hooks in those small sizes. I always opt for
the big eye hooks and bend the hook slightly to offset the point before
tying on hooks smaller than 18 and I think the straight eye design
helps keep gape clear ... I think this helps hookups, but no scientific
evidence there.... A number of "bugs" I seine up appear smaller than
sz 24 and the trout keep eating in the vicinity.

I have read and am tying many of the patterns and colors of midges from
Ed Koch and Don Holbrook's book - "Midge Magic". Recommend it for
anybody trying to work the midge problem. I particularly like the look
of the "Diamond midge".

Thanks
Tony Mortimer


Dave Mohnsen wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm back tying very small midges and BWOs (for use if the waters ever
recede here in the Northeast !) and I'm running short of my favorite
hooks - Varivas 988. These are wider gape than other hooks in same
class. I need sizes 22 thru 28 (and even 30, 32 if I can find them).
Daiichi 1140 are a decent alternative, but I can't locate any smaller
than 22 or 24.
Looking for online sources and all I can find are references to large,
sal****er Varivas hooks and Varivas.com page doesn't seem to work.
Anybody have ideas on sources ?
Thanks
Tony
Hi Tony,
Try Tiemco. I usually don't fish flies smaller than size 24. Did okay the
last few days on the the upper Colorado River with something called a disco
midge, size 24.
For the regular Roffians . . .and others . . . I recall doing the pattern
for a swap. It should be on Stan's site.

From the Tiemco website.
TMC100 goes to size 28.
TMC 100 BL goes to size 26.
TMC 101 goes to size 26.
TMC 501 goes to size 24.
TMC 508 goes to size 26.
TMC 518 goes to size 32.
TMC 900BL goes to size 24.
TMC 2487BL goes to size 24.
TMC 206BL goes to size 24.
There may be others.
I've been using the 101, mostly, in a size 24.
Curious about why you want anything smaller.
For dinky sizes I want to use a straight eye hook.
Google them and find out who stocks them.
DaveMohnsen
Denver
( I don't have anything smaller than size 32 hooks . . .uhh . .and I just
look at 'em) Hmmm. . . also for the dinky hooks , look for the big eye
versions of hooks.