Re: up, straight or down eye hooks:
For dry fly fishing, I have a definite preference for up eyed hooks but the
knot used to attach the tippet to the hook needs to be seated behind (yes
behind) the eye. This means a knot like the turle. Many fishermen use the
blood (clinch) knot or improved version with an extra tuck, however it does
not have the best knot strength. When tied with a turle or improved turle
knot, there is absolutely no hinging at the eye - the tippet material exits
the eye in a straight line parallel to the hook shank.
Advantages: Improved presentation of fly
The gape of the hook is unaffected by a down eye
Stronger than the clinch or improved clinch
Works well on loop up eyed salmon hooks
Disadvantages: Much harder and more time consuming to tie.
Uses a bit more tippet material
Neville (Nev) Gosling
Greater Vancouver
BC, Canada
