Tying Nymphs - curved or straight hooks?

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?


--
Karel

Live long and fly fish
:fish:
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"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?


--
Karel

I've not tied too many nymphs in my time. I imagine it would depend on the
type of nymph pattern one is tying, however, I think the next ones I tie,
depending on the type of course, will be tied on curved hooks.

Op

On Sun, 28 Oct 2007 13:38:10 -0400, Karel
wrote:


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?

I always tie nymphs and caddis larvae on various types of curved hooks. I
agree that they look more "real" than those tied on a dead straight shank...

/daytripper

I tie on the hooks I have availible. If I have curved hooks, I tie on
those, and vise versa. The fish don't seem to mind


--
Mike Ridolfino
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Karel wrote:
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?


I seem to recall that A.K. Best recently said he ties all his flies on
straight-shank dry fly hooks.

vince

Karel;96987 Wrote:
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?

I think curved hooks are a gimmick and dont make much of a difference
when it comes to traditional patterns or Mayfly type insects. I am not
sure if the benefit of caddis/scud hooks are all that better. A scud
only curls up when it is in ones hand or when they are dead I belive.

I think flies are traditionally tied a little off to compensate for the
fishes skewed perspective. Joe Humphreys wrote about originally trying
to tie nymphs with the truer shape and found them to be less productive
then the rounded body traditionally nymph. I think tying the nymphs more
abstract is often better.

Also as a reminder Karel not all nymphs are big swimmers as well. I
belive there are other classes then just swimmers.

Now if you asked who ties there emergers or tiny drys on curved hooks I
would have had a different answer.

But in the end it is the 27incher that matters most!


--
theartoflee

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains
a fool forever.
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"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

"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...
Well, there is a Mr. Sawyer who would disagree with you.

Indeed, and a late Mr. Roseborough(sp) out west, as well. He said study on
the water showed most of the actively moving nymphs under water to
straighten their
bodies as they swam. Thus, he tied all nymphs on straight
shank hooks. Fishing with both varieties showed the straight bodies to hook
roughly 3 times as well, but that was in the hands of one skeptical of the
design, and fishing without confidence might well be 1/3 as effective, so I
am
less swayed by Polly's info on that part.
Tom

... and you just beat me to add that the 27" was actually caught on a
flashback pheasant tail tied on a size 16 *caddis hook*. And so where
the other big guys that weekend (don't go running now to your vise).
But alas, I should have tied on a curved and a straight hook PT to see
if it actually makes a difference. For me, I will continue to
experiment with curved hooks and see what'll happen.


--
Karel

Live long and fly fish
:fish:
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It's interesting that no one mentioned that the gape on hooks that have
a curved bend is smaller than a 'standard' bend hook. I use the word
'standard' because the Mustad 3906B, and hooks like it by other
manufacturers, is a nymph/wet fly hook with a sproat bend. I would
class a sproat bend as standard.

Allan


--
Mayfly

Allan
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