Hook Eye Angle

[jaredoconnor]

Does hook eye angle matter, when tying on flies with a loop knot?

It seems like a straight eye would give better movement, on a regular hook. Similarly, it seems like a jig hook would work best with an eye that is in line with the shank.

I've seen arguments confirming and denying the above. I've always used straight eye hooks on saltwater flies and such, just because it seemed to make sense. However, I'm starting to tie up lake flies now and I really don't want to have to buy all new hooks.

 

[RCF]

So you are using saltwater hooks for lake flies? Interesting...

 

[Old406Kid]

Does hook eye angle matter, when tying on flies with a loop knot?

It seems like a straight eye would give better movement, on a regular hook. Similarly, it seems like a jig hook would work best with an eye that is in line with the shank.

I've seen arguments confirming and denying the above. I've always used straight eye hooks on saltwater flies and such, just because it seemed to make sense. However, I'm starting to tie up lake flies now and I really don't want to have to buy all new hooks.

Good question...I'm no expert but in many cases a straight eye makes the most sense to me.
It's not really applicable with most flies but a snell knot creates a straight pull on an up or down eye hook which also makes sense to me.

 

[Cowlitz Bottomfeeder]

There’s a lot of speculation on a lot of different matters. I like the scud hooks with the straight eye but I don’t know if that matters to the fish because I’ve probably caught as many on chironomids with the down eye as the straight eye.

Maybe hook color matters. I like using red for blood worm patterns Perhaps gold is good for Caddis pupae patterns and I’ve heard people say that you should use gold hooks for shad flies.

Tippet size definitely matters for trout at times and fluorocarbon tippet. I learned the hard way that a floating tippet can cause refusals with a dry fly.

In conclusion, lots of things can matter more than the hook eye.

 

[Tom Butler]

I use loop knots almost exclusively. For jig flies under the indicator I use the same FM5045 I use for stream flies. All the buggers and leeches I fished last year on the sinking lines, as well as carey specials, doc spratleys and other thin damselish patterns, were tied on turned down eye hooks, and they all worked.
I've though about this too, but didn't get too into it.

 

[Chucker]

I think that up and down eye hooks were originally meant to be used with a turle knot, which would keep the line in line with the hook shank (though there also might be issues related to manufacturing process, something about straight eyed hooks being harder to make). When I started contract tying in the UK, the rule was that all the dries were on up eye hooks, and all the wets were on down eyes.

 

[Buzzy]

Dude, you might be overthinking this as well.

 

[jaredoconnor]

Dude, you might be overthinking this as well.

We already spoke about this. I don't do that. Ever.

 

[Buzzy]

We already spoke about this. I don't do that. Ever.

I really like the straight eye hooks from Firehole - 718's for midges, I also really like Alec Jackson covert nymph hooks (down eye). I've tied and successfully fished midges on TMC 2457 (another down eye). Love me some jig hooks with the 60 degree down eye. Oh, dont get started with loops versus turle versus clinch versus improved clinch, that's another thread. Confidence is crucial. Have faith but don't fish next to Engee when he's forgot to add a wire rib to his #16 black ice cream cone - it wasn't fun for me, it sure was fun for him.