"JR" wrote


The TMC 200R and 5263 both come in BL, so that covers (for me, anyway),
most hoppers, stoneflies and streamers/buggers.

My .pdf catalog I downloaded doesn't show them ... but, I vaguely remember
seeing 200R BLs in West Yellowstone ... the 200R is what I've used for such
flies in the past





The real problem for me
is the lack of true BL variants for the straight-eye hooks I like for tiny
flies (TMC 101s and TMC 3488s). Fortunately, the barbs on the regular
101s and 2488s do seem to pinch down fairly easily and completely.


A 206 BL looks like an interesting hook to try ... but I've never seen one
in the flesh


I really like the 103 BL, but it's hard to find .... it's cool looking and
wicked sharp ( not real strong, though ) ...plus I love the affectation of
replying to the "what ya using?" question with something like ... "a rusty
half spent spinner ... in size 19 " ( the 103 comes in odd sizes ;-)


some hooks are hard to find ... I may call my buddies ( buddy in this case
means I'm obnoxious enough and bug them enough that they recognize me) at
Blue Ribbon and get them to special order some BLs ... they buy a ton of
hooks and can probably get them without a long wait.


Bad habit.
Many (especially those tied on older Mustads, I think) could not pass a
nylon-stocking test without filing the barb or barb-nub.


I found a lot of un-de-barbed flies in my boxes too ... really surprised me
.... I'd have lost a lot of shiny nickels betting there would be no more than
a couple .... they were nearly all nymphs tied long ago, but never used,
and kept so I can look like I actually know what I'm doing when I open my
boxes in front of one of you real fisherguys G ... I carry a hunk of yarn
for the same reason