18 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
By Larry Kurrus
For you wintertime fly-tyers out there: Are some of your
panfish hooks bending on larger fish? There may be a way to
prevent that from happening. Most fly hooks are more than
adequate for their intended purpose, but what if that Master
Angler fish decides to take your bug? It's usually a hard pull
at first, maybe a jump or two, and then that hard run that
ends in a lost fish, disappointment and a bent hook.
An answer to this problem could come from hook
manufacturer Eagle Claw. They offer a No. 8 and No. 6 hook
for panfish that have a bit more bulk, are stout enough for
larger fish and
make some
really nice
looking flies.
There is a
slight downside
to these hooks,
but one that
is easy to
negotiate. The
hooks have to
be adjusted
slightly from
their original
design. If you look at the hooks, they are turned where the
shank meets the hook end, and the point is bent in slightly
(photo left, top).
Place the hook in your fly-tying vise and gently bend
the hook end until it is straight with the shank. Then bend
the point of the hook out until it is parallel with the shank
or maybe even a bit more (photo left, bottom). This small
alteration will keep more fish hooked.
Now you are ready to land that next Master Angler. ■
Hooks For Bigger Fish
PHOTOS
BY
JEFF
KURRUS
A sturdier hook when fly-fishing can sometimes be the difference between
landing a big fish or not, including a grass carp on a mulberry imitation.
Before using the suggested panfish hooks, bend the
point of the hook so it is parallel with the shank.
