Doubles

[donangler]

I am pretty much just starting salmon fly tying and have effectivly tied on singles and a couple double hooks, but what is the best double hook for fly tying?

Jay

[Sloggi]

Loop doubles

I also like Partridge's Salar hooks but my fishing mate hates them I must admit that I've twice broken the hooks on the silver version costing me two salmon However, I like their gold and silver hooks with predominately orange or yellow flies. And the silver ones for sea-trout.

[exerod]

the Loop doubles always look a bit heavy and clumsy to me, although thats better than having them too fine and breaking! Their tube fly doubles seem to be of slightly finer wire and I like them.

Does anybody still use the Partridge code P or Q doubles? I don't think I've seen one on the forum, are we all tackle tarts when it comes to hooks?

Andy

[scotty]

VMC hooks seam to be pretty good, and a good price as well.

scotty

[charlieh]

exerod said:

Does anybody still use the Partridge code P or Q doubles? I don't think I've seen one on the forum, are we all tackle tarts when it comes to hooks?

Yes, I still use them a good deal, and have always got on well with them. My fly swap 2 flies are tied on them, in the 'grey shadow' (allegedly non-rust) finish. I use the Qs (low water) more than the Ps (standard).

VMC doubles seem fine, and certainly seem to offer good value for money. I know of a couple of gillies who use them, so that's some sort of recommendation I suppose. My favourite hooks, though, are the Ken Sawada low water doubles, which have a bend quite similar to the salars, but without the inturned point. They come in a black nickel finish like the Loop doubles. They're not all that easy to find - GAC do them, but www.theflybox.co.uk are considerably cheaper (though they're still not a cheap hook). Here's a picture, courtesy of Steffan Jones:

[donangler]

I am currently using salar hooks mainly due to the fact they are easy to obtain but I'll be sure to give some of those a try.

Thanks, Jay

[exerod]

CharlieH those Ken Sawada look good, thanks for the link.
I thought the Partridge "grey shadow" hooks were no longer made?

Andy

[acw]

I still use the Code P especially when using the heavier rods find the Qs can open up when given a bit of welly

[charlieh]

graham said:

The only problem I have found with the Sawada hooks is that they have an eye that is only turned up at a slight angle and doesn't have a proper waist, being more oval in shape. Consequently it does not work very well with turle type knots.

I can't say I've come across that problem, Graham, though you doubtless have given them a far more thorough testing than I have! You're right about the shape of the eye, and I can see how the problem could arise. I guess you need to keep the dressing well back, as if the head encroached onto the shoulders of the eye the knot wouldn't have enough purchase. But I've just tested an undressed size 8 with a couple of different sizes of nylon, and a turle did seem to hold OK provided it was bedded at the base of the eye. If the loop wasn't right at the base of the eye it did slip, though.

On the same subject, the most recent Partridge hooks seem to have unnecessarily large eyes, which make it hard to get a turle to stick without the knot pulling through to the underside of the eye when tightened. My Grey Shadows are tied on some old stock (which have more normal sized eyes) that I got at the Game Fair - I think the guy said he'd bought up all the old Partridge stock after the company was sold and production was moved abroad. I did have to reject one or two from the packet, but provided that you exercise your own quality control they seem fine and worked out quite cheap. I'm not convinced the Grey Shadow finish really adds much, which is no doubt why they were discontinued.