Straightened or broken hooks

[Buzzy]

Yesterday afternoon/evening a friend of mine was fishing a Basin lake; he was getting lots of takedowns without getting hookups. After a number of these no-hookup bobber downs he checked his hook; it had straightened out.

Several years ago I was fishing the giant cataract lake and missed three really good fish, solid slams and I thought what the heck? Checked my hook, my waterboatman fly wasn't a "hook" anymore, it had straightened out.

Many years ago, after work, I hiked into that FF only lake near Othello. Back in those days the reeds, tules and phragmites weren't completely ringing the lake and you could fish from the west shore. I kept getting grabs on my TDC without hooking up. The old Mustad hook broke at the bend.

Check your hooks! (Someone on the forum has that as their signature).

 

[Wayne Kohan]

And if you are fishing balanced leeches and losing fish, I found that you should twist the hook bend sideways, kinda like a circle hook. I suspect that makes the leech spin if you're trolling, but under an indicator it works well. I posted about this issue I had earlier this year. https://pnwflyfishing.com/forum/index.php?threads/balanced-leech-ldrs.4614/

 

[Bambooflyguy]

I miss more fish than I catch…..but when the bobber goes down……still makes me smile! Gonna release them anyway, but unless it’s on for the 8 seconds rodeo…..doesn’t count towards Crown Royal!

 

[Wayne Kohan]

I miss more fish than I catch…..but when the bobber goes down……still makes me smile! Gonna release them anyway, but unless it’s on for the 8 seconds rodeo…..doesn’t count towards Crown Royal!

I bet you count to 8 faster when you're thirsty!

 

[Bambooflyguy]

I count by two’s on slow days Wayne!!

 

[Rob Allen]

Yesterday afternoon/evening a friend of mine was fishing a Basin lake; he was getting lots of takedowns without getting hookups. After a number of these no-hookup bobber downs he checked his hook; it had straightened out.

Several years ago I was fishing the giant cataract lake and missed three really good fish, solid slams and I thought what the heck? Checked my hook, my waterboatman fly wasn't a "hook" anymore, it had straightened out.

Many years ago, after work, I hiked into that FF only lake near Othello. Back in those days the reeds, tules and phragmites weren't completely ringing the lake and you could fish from the west shore. I kept getting grabs on my TDC without hooking up. The old Mustad hook broke at the bend.

Check your hooks! (Someone on the forum has that as their signature).

I have never experienced that... not even one time on quake lake where I didn't rise like 20 fish to a parachute adams and didn't miss every single one of them due to a busted hook.... nope never happened to me... not even once.

 

[jaredoconnor]

I never use “dry fly” (fine) hooks, for this reason. Mustad is also pretty notorious for durability problems.

I only use Daiichi and Fulling Mill hooks. Haven’t had one bend or break, in years. The Fulling Mill jig hooks that I use for “euro nymphs” take an absolute beating. When you’re scraping the bottom, ripping flies out of logs and foul hooking fish all day, it’s worth spending a bit extra on hooks.

 

[_WW_]

I never use “dry fly” (fine) hooks, for this reason. Mustad is also pretty notorious for durability problems.

I only use Daiichi and Fulling Mill hooks. Haven’t had one bend or break, in years. The Fulling Mill jig hooks that I use for “euro nymphs” take an absolute beating. When you’re scraping the bottom, ripping flies out of logs and foul hooking fish all day, it’s worth spending a bit extra on hooks.

Dang man! Maybe you should fish where the fish bite.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Let me know where that is…..

 

[Triggw]

I threw out a box of TMC 200Rs when I found how easily they straighten. Now use a 1X heavy for all my chiro hooks.

 

[jaredoconnor]

Dang man! Maybe you should fish where the fish bite.

It was a joke; a play on the euro nympher stereotype.

The part about scraping the bottom and getting caught in logs is real, though. You need good hooks for that.

 

[Mossback]

Let me know where that is…..

Between the rocks and logs, and off the bottom.

 

[Northern]

Pat, if something straightens out one of these, I don't think I want to catch it anyway!

 

[Buzzy]

Pat, if something straightens out one of these, I don't think I want to catch it anyway!
View attachment 83230

How well does this work with 4X? ;-)

 

[FishyJere]

Rule 1a. Check your fly.

 

[kmudgn]

When I was up in Labrador, I had several of the large Brook trout straighten out a # 12 dry. I retied the flies with 10s and 8s and had no further issues.

 

[Phil K]

Rule 1a. Check your fly.

Applicable in a variety of settings.

 

[_WW_]

I threw out a box of TMC 200Rs when I found how easily they straighten. Now use a 1X heavy for all my chiro hooks.

I use them for searuns in the Skagit just for that reason. Fishing around a lot of wood I invariably hook some. Have never had one straighten out on a fish.