FLYMPH FORUM

Its a Mustad 3121. A lot heavier than the 94842's and with a limerick bend. I haven't modified it in any way. You are right Jeff they work just fine after a little hand sharpening. They catch good, the release is a bit more difficult. I have a lot of other ones which are very similar but most have a reversed bend to them. I have a couple boxes of Mustad 31217's in a #15 which also have no bend to them. Beautiful hooks on a great size.

Old Hat wrote:Its a Mustad 3121. A lot heavier than the 94842's and with a limerick bend. I haven't modified it in any way. You are right Jeff they work just fine after a little hand sharpening. They catch good, the release is a bit more difficult. I have a lot of other ones which are very similar but most have a reversed bend to them. I have a couple boxes of Mustad 31217's in a #15 which also have no bend to them. Beautiful hooks on a great size.

I've never heard of those numbers. I did not notice the limerick bend on the hook as the big barb initially caught my eye.

Yeah, that barb is an attention grabber. I'm not sure but would guess the the 3121, 31217 predates the 94842's a few years.

Old Hat wrote:Yeah, that barb is an attention grabber. I'm not sure but would guess the the 3121, 31217 predates the 94842's a few years.

Isn't it though? I like the barb and the generous eye sizing compared to most modern hooks. I am a sinner and freely admit it, but no trout fished for legally here are native and bag limits are encouraged. In the bigger jaws I do not have much of a problem releasing unharmed trout caught on this style of hook.
A lot of the vintage Mustad hooks are reversed, some just a touch off straight- others near ridiculous amounts. Slight reverse or kirbed in a wet fly hook do not worry me and I can tell no difference in fishability or catch rate between them and straight hooks.

Carl, I tied a pile of small black and gray llama hair and starling or black hen, I don't recall which, on this hook and I swear the fly is a killer. I tied them just to do it, and fished it just to see what would happen, and it caught on several outings in a row. I really should tie some on more modern hooks, but this set was tied on this same or very similar vintage Mustad hook, with the barb broken off. They don't bend down well, and it leaves a rough notch in its place. These are just great hooks, quirks and all.