Grouse

[DNicolson]

At the time these flies were devised, anglers had a much more
limited range of hooks. The smallest available were probably
00/16 or 000/17,
and maybe not even that small. An other
factor is that the use of lead wire etc does not seem to have
come into use until much later, probably after WW1.
So! the obvious answer was to use largish hooks to fly size.
It seems to have worked.
Here an extensive article on Tummel flies based on
W H Lawrie's writings.

http://donaldnicolson.webplus.net/page153.html

[scotfly]

Maybe Bob is 100% right, but I ain't quite 100% convinced

I find it difficult to accept that a small pattern such as the tummel style tied on a large hook is as effective on less than fast flowing water than same pattern on a smaller hook - call me cautious when it comes to such matters.

Bet you've never fished a kite's bare hook nymph?

[hankaye]

Donald, Howdy;

Glad to see you POP-UP once again.
Thank you for the article on the Tummel style flys.
Interesting in that as the waters of the Tummel are peat coloured and not clear that
something harder to see would be used .....hmmmmmm
You really do have an overwhelming amount of information to share.
I for one am happy that you chose to share.

hank

[michaelgmcgraw]

Donald, that is a neat article- An enjoyable read!

[Otter]

Maybe Bob is 100% right, but I ain't quite 100% convinced

I find it difficult to accept that a small pattern such as the tummel style tied on a large hook is as effective on less than fast flowing water than same pattern on a smaller hook - call me cautious when it comes to such matters.

Bet you've never fished a kite's bare hook nymph?

A good and true Scotsman only makes a bet when he is certain of the outcome but I can't see the point of dragging the adventures of an english stockie basher into a discussion of a historic Scottish fly style that is only fit for wild trout, have ye nae shame at all lad.

[scotfly]

but I can't see the point of dragging the adventures of an english stockie basher into a discussion of a historic Scottish fly style that is only fit for wild trout, have ye nae shame at all lad.

Can't argue with that.

[Otter]

but I can't see the point of dragging the adventures of an english stockie basher into a discussion of a historic Scottish fly style that is only fit for wild trout, have ye nae shame at all lad.

Can't argue with that.

Seriously though, it would be interesting to see the views and experiences of well experienced wet fly fishers here regarding the pros and cons of fishing patterns tied short on larger hooks and on what types of water and during what types of hatches etc... Achieving depth is a good reason, overall sparseness of the imitation is a good reason but surely it must be a balanced approach not simply blind faith in the old universally applicable one liner "it does not seem to matter to the trout" - that line goes against all my many many many experiences of failure to deceive our adversary.

Call me an old sceptic, but there are so many things in fishing that cannot simply be accepted at face value as many anglers simply and un-wittingly pass on percieved wisdoms from one generation to the next without actually understanding the background and other things that can be so vital to successful fishing.

How often do we try fishing a particular method or way based on commonly percieved wisdoms, fail miserably and put it down to our own ineptitude and leave it at that without maybe questioning the validity of the pervcieved wisdom or at least figure out if we are in possession of the full facts.

Food for thought I hope , maybe ?

[William Anderson]

Otter, I'd be curious to see a productive discussion on this myself. Would you mind starting a thread in the tying section? I keep getting lost when some of the best material evolves naturally in an odd place. I know it sometimes doesn't work, once a conversation develops naturally in one place, it doesn't always pick up if you try to move it. Just a thought.

w

[Otter]

New topic on sparse tying big hook discussion in Fishing Wingless Wets section

[hankaye]

Otter, Howdy;

Seriously though, it would be interesting to see the views and experiences of well experienced wet fly fishers here regarding the pros and cons of fishing patterns tied short on larger hooks and on what types of water and during what types of hatches etc...

As I am not a "well experienced wet fly fisher", I'll just sit back and ask questions from the beginners box..............

hank