Tying Nymphs - curved or straight hooks?

"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

"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