"Karel" wrote in message
...

I have begun over the last year or so to tie almost all my nymphs and
some wet flies on curved hooks (i.e. caddis hooks). To me, a nymph
adrift is seldom straight but is wiggling, trying to swim etc. and has
therefore a curved appearance (unless it's dead). Does anybody else tie
nymphs on curved hooks and/or what is your take on this?


Well, there is a Mr. Sawyer who would disagree with you. The original
Pheasant Tail is tied on a straight hook. So is the Hares Ear,
Prince, Tellico, and most mayfly and all-purpose nymphs. However,
many of the caddis nymphs, but not a majority, are tied on curved
hooks.

That said, there is no reason why you can't tie whatever the hell you
want on *any* hook. d;o) I think that experimenting with a known
tie, altering it somewhat, including a different hook, is what tying
is all about. I tie a "modified" Pheasant Tail on a curved hook and
have had much success with it. However, it works just as well when
tied on a straight nymph or wet fly hook.

If I tie a wet (seldom) it too will be tied on a straight hook. ALL
wet flies in the 40s (when I started to fly fish) were tied on
straight hooks. Both my mom and dad tied and I still have old
Wheatley Boxes filled with dries and wets tied by them. Not a curved
hook in the bunch. And, they worked quite well.

Dave