down eyed doubles

[macd]

have any of you had a go with this type of hook?

any advantages to it?

macd

[Fruin]

I have a theory about down eye doubles. It is only a theory so treat it as such.

Due to the angle that leader material leaves the hook at when using a double turl knot, I sometimes feel that an up eye double will be assisted in swimming hook down (not good).

With a down eye double the whole think is reversed. This means that the weight of the hook, angle of leader relevant to the hook, and the effects of the current may make the fly swim on a more even keel.

The stronger the current and/or the longer the tail of the dressing the less relevant the theory becomes.

Any thoughts?

[macd]

must give the fly a different action

im going to have a go with them - test your theory out

[juniorspey]

I've only tried them in smaller sizes (#10-#12) for sea trout. I've seen little difference between the numbers of fish taken on up and down eyes, but I had a couple more on ups, as I fished them more often.
What types of hooks have you tried??? LOOP??? I have only tried the kamasan traditional trout doubles, they seem very good and are a fair bit cheaper!!!!
Blair

[Fruin]

Juniorspey,

I've tried the Loop doubles and they seem OK. However, there seems to be little difference between them and similar hooks at half the price. Once again, stick the word 'salmon' in front of something and double the price!

By far my favourite doubles are the up eyed Partridge Salar, but I wince everytime they are rung up on the till at £6. A thorough search of the internet provides some sources of these hooks at less than £5.

I used to get my hooks as seconds from somebody in Aberlour, however, the last time that a fishing friend phoned him he was living in France and no longer trading.

Does anybody have a source for good quality seconds or cheaper hooks? I see a lot of low water doubles at bargain prices, but this is not my favourite style of hook.

My problem is that I tie a lot of different patterns to experiment with ideas. I obviously have my 'go to' patterns for serious fishing, but most of these have been found through such experimentation. This can be a costly business at £6 for 10 hooks.

[macd]

i have a pack of the flashpoint big mouth doubles, but have yet to give them a go.


They are of course lighter than loops and less durable- easily blunted - does anyone use them as an alternative to the loops?

[Fruin]

macd,

Two local guys I know use little else but loop bottle tubes. One of them favours the Flashpoint Big Mouth Double and the other favours the Flashpoint Heavy Nymph Double. Both of them have landed a significant amount of fish from the Dee to the Nith and never had a problem with either of these hooks. The Heavy Nymph Double(HND) dealt admirably with an energetic 18lb springer!

I used to use the HND, but started to use Owner Stinger Trebles(ST36). However last October I had my hook straightened by a very large fish, so I may rethink this year. Mind you, I think the fish in question would have straightened a grappling hook!!!

[macd]

im still a bit dim re: tube doubles-i and have difficulty gauging the right size. Maybe too used to seeing a treble

whats a reasonable size of double hook for a 3/4" copper tube?

[juniorspey]

Fruin,
the best source of decent quality seconds is from a nice husband and wife who have a stall at many gamefairs, including the CLA. They sell partrige salars at great prices, its arond £4-5 for 20 up eye doubles, they also stock partridge low waters and grey shadows. Your right about the salars- they are excellant hooks!

Blair

[Fruin]

macd,

I've just looked in my fly-tying drawers and couldn't find any Loop tube doubles but did find some of the regular doubles for dressing on. Looking at the size of the hook bend etc. I'd say a 10 or 12. With the 10 being for heavier dressed patterns or longer wings.

[Fruin]

Blair,

Thanks for the info, I'll look out for them this year. Are they usually at Scone Palace?

[williegunn]

He is writing a book on the Spey and has fished every beat from Grantown to the sea. Allegedly, word on the river is he even had permission for some of them.

[Fruin]

Graham,

If you could send me his email address in a PM, I would be very much obliged.

If I remember correctly, the hooks he sells are about 80% usable, which still makes them a bargain at those prices.