| The most common theme in the method of | | | | held so that the shank is level to make the tying |
| teaching fly tying is continually to emphasize the | | | | operation easier and you do this by getting a |
| need to get the dressing of a fly put together in | | | | good hold with the vice jaws on the lower part of |
| the correct proportions, by which is meant the | | | | the bend. Do not screw up the vice jaw so tight |
| relative length of, say, the hackle and tail to the | | | | that the face of the jaw can be damaged, use |
| size of hook being used and the insect or | | | | just enough grip to ensure the hook is firmly held. |
| creature being imitated. It is true that greatly | | | | The temper-testing operation is not too technical, |
| exaggerating the size of one portion of a fly will | | | | all you do is to depress the hook end with your |
| sometimes enhance its attractiveness to a fish | | | | thumb and let it go. If the hook bends or breaks |
| but usually it is better to keep all the elements of | | | | discard it and try another. Ideally, it should return |
| the dressing in proportion. | | | | instantly to its original shape with a 'ping'. |
| Fly Fishing Hooks | | | | The old adage that you get the best by paying |
| Without a hook we have a little chance of | | | | the most applies very much to hook but even |
| catching a fish and there are now hundreds of | | | | then you will get the occasionally bad one in a |
| different hook patterns all based on a pointed, | | | | batch. |
| bent and barbed length of wire. Modern fly tying is | | | | Fly tyers have an enormous range of patterns |
| done with an eyed hook either straight, up or | | | | from which to choose and there is a pattern for |
| down-eyed depending on personal preference for | | | | every conceivable fly within the different patterns |
| the type of fly being tied. The length of the shank | | | | made by Eagle Claw of the USA, Mustad of the |
| can vary tremendously as can the gape of the | | | | Norway and Patridge of England. |
| hook and the set of the point. Hooks come either | | | | To start fly tying I suggest that you obtain a |
| plain or forged, the latter having the end | | | | packet of 25 each of the following hook: |
| compressed to give more strength. The modern | | | | Size 12 Sprout bend standard-length shank, down |
| trend in fly fishing is to use barbless hooks so | | | | eye |
| that an unwanted fish can be released with the | | | | Size 10 Limerick bend standard-shank .length, |
| minimum injury and so provide future sport. | | | | down eye |
| However, the vast majority of fly hooks are | | | | Size 12 Sprout bend standard-length shank, up |
| barbed and a range of commonly used patterns is | | | | eye |
| shown. | | | | Size 10 Perfect bend long-shank, down eye |
| Hooks are tempered in that the metal is | | | | With this selection you can tie nymphs, dry flies, |
| heat-treated to harden it, but tempering is an | | | | standard wets and lures and then, later on, you |
| absolute science for the hook must not be brittle | | | | can make other flies on patterns of your own |
| that it breaks under tension, i.e. when in the | | | | selection or based on the recommendation of the |
| mouth of the fish, and nor must it be soft that it | | | | tyer who originated the fly you want to make. |
| straightens out under a pull. | | | | Look after your hooks by keeping them dry: |
| If as a fly tyer you are going to spend a | | | | corrosion is a terrible thing for fishing hooks and |
| considerable amount of time constructing a fly on | | | | has been the cause of many a lost fish. A small |
| a hook then the first thing you need to do is to | | | | compartmented plastic box makes an ideal |
| test its temper. If you do not, then your own | | | | storage container, with the advantage that the |
| temper is likely to be severely tested it after | | | | hook types are readily seen. Make sure that the |
| much effort and time the hook breaks or | | | | lid fit securely, for one day you will drop your |
| straightens on the first fish it hook. However, | | | | hook box and it is not much fun picking them ot |
| testing a hook takes but a moment and you do it | | | | of the carpet and sorting out several hundred |
| soon as the hook is placed in the vice. | | | | different hooks into size and pattern. It teaches |
| At this point you will learn how to place a hook | | | | you all about hooks, but what a way to learn! |
| correctly into a fly-tying vice. The object is to | | | | With a little knowledge of hooks and one of a |
| cover the point of the hook with the jaws of the | | | | suitable temper in the vice now is the time to |
| vice so that the tying thread does not catch on | | | | move to the first proper stage to become a fly |
| the sharp point and cut it. The hook must also be | | | | tyer. |