Good point, Joyce. Something that is somewhat overlooked is tempering, and improper tempering is impossible to visually spot. Too much tempering and the hook is brittle, too little and you can tie it in a knot- literally. And unless you actually test-bend a few hooks as you put them in your vise, as you did, you may never know if your hooks were properly tempered. I've found off-temper hooks in just about all hook brands, but it seems the newer Mustads and the premium brands are doing a better job. I've never found an entire batch off-temper, but I suppose that could easily happen. I have lost fish to hooks that were soft and straightened out. Time then for a temper-tantrum, eh?
Also, don't confuse the light temper of fine-wire dry-fly hooks with the hard temper of forged hooks. They're two different beasties. One thing that bugs me is to tie a fly on a hook that I didn't notice that the eye was partially closed, until I whip finished. Grrr. DonO ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joyce Westphal" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 11:28 AM Subject: Re: [VFB] What is your preferred hook brand? > I have found mis-shapen and deformed hooks in all the brands..don't think > any maker has the edge on this. think it depends on the person doing the > quality control for the day. Have tied with them all and prefer Mustads over > all even though there may be a deformed hook or two in the box. The only > brand that I've ever had that had "soft" hooks was Tiemco..all were so soft > that when you put them in the vise, and flipped it with your finger, the > hook literally bent over. Threw away the whole box. It rather turned me off > on high priced Tiemcos. Have had one batch of Dia-riki hooks that were very > brittle and broke when flipped in the vise..other than that, use them all. > Joyce > >
