Gold and Silver Hooks

[salmao]

Hello guys!!

In wich conditions are useful to use salmon flies with gold and silver hooks?

Thanks

Best

[Sloggi]

A simple answer would be to say "confidence" - any time if you're confident in the fly/hook.

Personally, I use the gold hooks with predominantly with orange based flies and the silver with black or blue based flies - not rule, just what I'm confident with. Naturally, the silver or gold hooks will look brighter in the water so in dark, peat-stained water, the hook may help the overall brightness of your lure.

[rpsalmon]

I tend to use them in low water as this is when they can make the most impression. Some flies, like a silver/stoats tail, just look right on a silver hook. There is a theory about silver hooks being invisible in low water with cloud overhead because the silver reflects the surrounding colours underwater, interesting! To me they mean something different, which is often what you need. I am concerned that some of the silver and gold hooks are brittle to the point of being useless!

[hornet]

RPS,

I agree, I have had quite a few gold and silver salar hooks that have broken at the tips which i can only guess at being poorly manufactured.

When using them i frequently check the hook tips for this which is a bit of a pain. I now use Loop doubles with tubes as i have never had any problems with them.

Hornet

[Sloggi]

I've had repeated problems with Partridge Salar hooks in silver. They seem very brittle. Their black and gold versions seem fine.

[hornet]

Sloggi,

Never had a problem with the black only the G & S.

[speycaster]

i have lost two good fish while using the silver salar doubles both times they snapped , i also use loop doubles and so far have had no probs

[Sloggi]

Loop hooks are rock solid

[rpsalmon]

I didn't want to name the brand or manufacturer, but you've all hit the nail on the head.

I bought an odd lot of tackle at auction and it included boxes of gold gilt dace hooks, I found it very hard to remove the gilt and found it difficult to understand how they could make them so easily in the 1950's but that some companies can't do it today!

Since the salmon's psychological state is different in coloured flood water than during clear low water, and therefore it is generally less important what you use in coloured flood water, I tend only to use these coloured hooks in low water.

[rpsalmon]

The salmon's psychological state is different in coloured flood water than it is during clear low water because it feels the security of extra and coloured water, also increased movement from water flow increases the metabolic rate and I think this may add to the urge to swim upstream, these and other factors contribute to the salmon mimicking its past life and therefore habits in the sea. These old habits included a voracious appetite and this is more likely to be re-stimulate their old habits under flood conditions, as this includes feeding (I'm not holding back on my opinions!) it makes them easier to catch. When a fish stops swimming, or running, and it is in a state to defend it's lie then it may be lured into a territorial take, also, when it rests even for a short period then it has to again temporarily change its metabolic rate in order to recover "its breath" and allow further upstream movement then I believe this further change in metabolic rate allows the fish to be susceptible to being lured to feed. Also when a fish moves into a new environment or position, such as a new pool, I believe the salmon is inquisitive and if it likes the new pool will settle down and defend that lie, against a lure or other salmon (as is splashing to mark or defend its territory). Even when a fish has become "resident" in a pool (coloured or clear water), I believe the salmon will often be woken by a trigger that may be a juicy shrimp of bygone days or just a life like object that either smells good or is just trying to escape, and because of whichever "trigger" the salmon will feed in fresh water.

Once the salmon is faced with low flows, clear water and sunlight, lower oxygen levels etc, it can't help but feel more insecure and therefore only becomes "alive" again at night when it can feel and use the security of darkness. You can still catch them at night but as we all know, it is easier and more pleasant to do it in the morning.

There is no one single cause for a salmon to take. Apart from the beginning of the year when a salmon tends more to be more inclined to defend a lie, and even in April/May when a parr mimicking fish lure can be deadly, as the season progresses toward Autumn I believe the salmon is more likely to be lured into a territorial take.

I welcome a fisheries biologist to knock holes in my practical working basis for fishing. I also welcome anglers to pass serious comment on these views, if people contribute then perhaps an amended and expanded version could be "The Official Proboard Salmon Theory"...at least until someone kicks it into touch!

(Modification to posting-where's the previous posting gone? I was asked for an explanation of my remarks!)

[macd]

woops, my fault thanks, i accidently deleted my post asking for this elaboration- i thought it was an edit.

but thanks for the elaboration