woodcock and grouse

[letumgo]

I like the straight eye hook. It gives the fly a "European look", to my eye. I tend to associate the straight eye hook to European spiders, which I enjoy seeing.

[Old Hat]

Kelly, those are really nicely tied patterns. Perfect proportions for stillwater patterns to my eye.

[Kelly L.]

Thank you Old Hat. Yes, most of these are for still waters. I am very glad you liked them. I am going to tie again in a little while. We have been having some thunderstorms here. So that gives me time to tie, cause I can't be outside. Ray, I like the straight eye too very much. The hook is silver though, not sure if you can tell that good from the photo. Our water is not very clear most of the time. Only one lake is pretty clear in my area. So I don't think the silver will bother them at all. I am going to try these silver ones out that I already tied, and see what the fish think of them. If they like it, and aren't bothered by them, I will use a few more. I am going to go look again up close at that hook. You know, the Alex Jackson soft hackle hooks are silver too. The shape is pleasing enough, but I think the straight eye is what I find most appealing. It is a Gamakatsu S12S-1F. I can get these hooks for right at the same price as Daiichi. (I know a guy who sells them, and he likes me) The hook is meant for multi-use 1x fine. It is meant for small nymphs, and wet flies. I really like the look of the 1550 for a longer fly. But, the 1640 is fabulous for the short shank fly. One day I will try that Partridge hook, and maybe that high dollar Gaelic Supreme hook, if I want to get real fancy. But those won't be something I use a lot, because of the expense. I like using different hooks. It is kind of like trying on different shoes to go with an outfit, for me...lol.

[CreationBear]

Very nice tying (and photography ) through out--the dubbed thoraxes especially strike me as spot-on.

[Kelly L.]

Thank you very much for letting me know CreationBear. I am glad you liked them.

[letumgo]

Kelly - I like the silver hook, especially when tying with silk. I will often use tinsel to create a silver (or gold) underbody, to help reflect tight back thru the silk. I am convinced it added translucency to the fly, imitating the bodies of natural insects. It gives me confidence, a fly that is tyed in this manner, will be productive. Fortunately, the fish in my area are willing to humor me. Maybe they just think they look like candy.

[Kelly L.]

Ray, you said that at the perfect time. I just finished tying 4 of the Grouse & Amber with the Daiichi 1550 hook. I put that fly up next to the fly tied on the Gamakatsu hook...you aren't going to believe this, but that hook is growing on me. That straight eye on it is the clincher. I held both flies to the light. The silver is not as bright as I originally thought. Or maybe I was just somewhat blinded by the tying light up that close. I have been wanting to play with different hooks, and I just came across those, and thought, what the heck, it looks good, I'm gonna try it. It is very close to the diameter of the 1550 hook wire. They are virtually identical in that dept. So what I am gonna do is tie with both. Then I am going to let the fish decide. The thing is, one day they like gold, another day silver. Each lake is different too. I will also test the hooking ability. Oh, and by placing both together...I preferred the look of the Gamakatsu.

[Ruard]

Hi Kelly, as you know I like the spiders with the straight eye, as Ray says the European look. You tied them very well and personal I like the ones with the little bit of dubbing, sparse but nice!!


greeting

[Kelly L.]

Ruard, thanks for letting me know this. That was appreciated for sure.