Varivas Hooks

[DNicolson]

Has anyone tried Varivas Hooks?

[willowhead]

i've used them a lot.....still have some left.....nice hooks.

[DNicolson]

Thanks a lot Mark, I have never used them and buying on-line can be a bit dodgy.
You obviously tie a lot of flies, so you should know.

[letumgo]

Donald - I received a set of Varivas Keel Hooks from a friend (Thanks Karsten/"fly_fisha") and I used them to tye some bendback style minnow patterns (see link below if you want to see my fly - caution - not flymph related). The hooks were extremely sharp and had a nice finish. If their other hooks are anything like the ones I used, I think you will like them very much.

http://www.flytyingforum.com/pattern9856.html

[willowhead]

Donald, most of the Varivas hooks i've used were eyed Salmon hooks.....so when i said, "nice hooks" i was refering to their looks......not their fishing qualities.....can't remember if i've ever fished with a fly tyed on one or not. But, i know a lot of other tyers who like them, and i've never heard anyone bitch about their lack of fishing quality.

[DNicolson]

I hope to use them for some Tenkara Flies, using their curved hooks.
The supplier is - http://www.lakelandflytying.com/
who are a good quality supplier. I believe they are made by the Czechs.
Many thanks for the info.

[willowhead]

Donald i believe the guy who represents them in England lives in London.....he was giving away samples when we did the show in Newark in '09. i still have some of those.....the Salmon hook packages i have say, Made in Japan, from Carbon 100 (which means that the cabon content is 1 % for strength and lightness, and they are chemically sharpened. At the time i bought these, they were $5.99 for 12 hooks......or bout 50 cents each. i'm lookin' at a package of size 1.
At that time in history, (these i have in my hand i may have bought almost 10 years ago.....slightly before switiching over to tying almost exclusively on blind eye hooks for Salmon and Artistic flies.....), they apparently had a parent company named Morris Company LTD. Give google a try.....