Keel Hook Herring

The forums are very quiet

The Global FlyFisher forum has existed for almost as long as the site, and the oldest posts are more than 20 years old. Forums aren't what they used to be. Social media has taken over a lot of their roles, and the GFF form is very quiet ... to put it mildly.
We keep everything online for the sake of history, and preserve the posts for as long as possible, but as you will see, quite a few of them aren't in a good shape, but rely on old images hosted elsewhere, which are no longer available, odd codes from old systems and much more, which can't be shown in a decent way.
But the posts are here, and you can - if you insist - start new threads. But don't stay awake waiting for replies, because they are unfortunately few and far apart.
Martin

Patterns

I've taken Owner and Gamagatsu worm hooks and turned them into a keel/hook-up HerringPhly that works well up the estuary creeks enroute to herring runs.
Despite the tight quarters, BIG Stripes will follow the spring herring into shallow/narrow bits of secret waters all in search of StriperCandy...
Casts are maybe 15 meters max. When used with a floating line, the long hackles insinuate life "movement" even when the fly is left to its' own devices...the retrieve is a mild twitch combined with long dead drifts. The cleanly hidden keel hook is less apt to foul on grass/weeds and structure but the very WIDE gap allows for a pointy surprise when the time is right and the planets allign!

Not nearly as disciplined and minimal as the Right Honourable Adrian Sharp's beauty...
I tend to transfer the phuzzy notion in my head onto the hook with the gradual application of the appropriate phur, pheathers, and phlash...a recipe would do me good!
This one is a bit too long but I'll tank test it before clipping adjustments are performed...
A slow retrieve or a dead drift will allow for lots of undulation and subtle bite-me movement.

Very good. I just got an email from Adrian about these hooks. There are many pluses to these hooks but his one negative comment was his hook-up to landing ratio was low when the barb is crushed--a big negative. I know Adrian's a good fisherman so I don't think it is the operator's problem. Have you had a similar problem or do you not crush your barbs?

Here's a little flatwing for the flats. Up-turned hook prevents dull hooks from sand and clam shells.

My intended target with large herring tube and keel phlyz is Mrs BigStripe making her way up tidal estuaries hot on the heels of Spring herring...
Under these conditions (and when I'm Albie fishin') I confess to using barbed hooks and my landing success rate has been good... :oops:
I'm using an overlined 10wt with a floater and short 20# flourocarbon leader under low light situations...NO fly shredding tippet clipping toothy Blues to worry about and junior Stripes haven't been an issue (so far) since they would be preditory targets themselves...

Most any other time I'll de-barb...especially for schoolies and toothy Blues...
When mini-Stripes are the soup d'jour...After a few, I'll pack up and move...

In that picture of you on the couch; are those dogs?

Beautiful dogs. Dingo looks bright. Those two breeds almost cancel each other out. Such great personalities.

The hooks that you are using look too weak. How strong are they? I have had some pullouts over the years with Stripers and Blues because I used freshwater streamer hooks. Are yours deceptively strong, like Ike Turner? Between the thinness of the hook and the width of the gap they look like they could straighten.

[quote:01866c186a="Penguin"]I've taken Owner and Gamagatsu worm hooks and turned them into a keel/hook-up HerringPhly...[/quote:01866c186a]

Nicely done and an excellent idea. For the record, Mustad has discontinued the 79666 keel hook - I've confirmded this with the North American Mustad rep. I've been looking at various worm hooks to do something very similar to what you've created (I'm playing with imitations of immature carp for largish bass of the striped hybrid variety that live in the Ohio River - and if I'm very lucky and outsized Flathead catfish, which is a nearly impossible fish on a fly for many reasons you might not anticipate). Thanks for sharing a great combination of tying techniques - flatwings, keel flies and bendbacks!

Joe C.

I tried the BendBack species but didn't like the point offset angle regarding the direction of the hook set and the diverging angle of the hook point...the force vector is compromised.
'Still (IHMO) probably better than "bending your own"...
If you can bend it, so can they... :shock:

After looking around and a bunch of R&D/tank tests, Gamagatsu and Owner were the only ones left standing...
The Owner Rig'n Hooks are strong and well suited for my smaller applications (sand lances, silversides,etc)...sharp, strong, thin wire...waytogo!
The Owner Oversize 7/0 is a good size but there is a little give in the wire than negates HONKIN' on the fish during the fight...This is what I use for most of my Hook Up Phlyz...sofarsogood!
The Oversize 11/0 is BIG and STRONG and the gap is Grand Canyonesque...for REALLY BIG Hook Upz... :roll:

Keep 'em sparse and flowing...LESS IS MORE...
...especially when they are undulating at first light "INSINUATING" breakfast.. :wink:

[b:32f12ca964]HERRING advance scouts have arrived...
'more to phollow...
'Striped Muggerz will attend the buffet... and so will I...
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and for [i:32f12ca964]dark ops[/i:32f12ca964]...
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What's in [i:32f12ca964]YOUR[/i:32f12ca964] wallet?![/b:32f12ca964]

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