Articulated flies
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Since I don’t have experience with this area I need to ask the question. Is a trailing hook necessary when tying a articulated fly?
How many times has anyone caught a fish with the trailing hook?
Reason I ask is because their are other materials use can use instead of using a second hook on the fly. I’ve heard of people using finish nails and I don’t know how they work. If trailing hooks work then I’ll use them but if 90% of the time they go for the head, why bother with the hook. I’ve also read article where some cut the hook off. Just curious.
I want to tie some up soon.
J,
I tie almost all of my articulated patterns with the trailing hook entact. However, you don’t necessarily need to. Some people clip the hook off at the bend. I’ve seen a lot of numbers thrown around as to how many fish are caught on the front hook vs. the back hook, but can’t say for sure what is true. In my experience, I catch fish on both the front and back hooks.
A great resource that I highly recommend is the podcast that Zach did with Kelly Galloup a while back. It contains a wealth of information about all aspects of streamer fishing. Keep in mind though, for the majority of that podcast Kelly is talking about trophy trout, which I believe he defines as 24″ and up, or somewhere around there. He makes a good point that this class of fish attack the head of their prey, because afterall, they have to swollow it head first so that the fins don’t lodge in their throat. In that situation a front hook is all you need. However, I have personally experienced trout in the 16-20″ range attack a fly/fish at the middle or back. In those situations, the rear hook can be beneficial.
Some people are also under the impression that a second entact hook causes more harm to the fish. I have never personally experienced an articulated fly with two hooks causing any unusual harm to the fish. If it did, I would clip one of the hooks off.
I recommend tying articulated patterns with a rear hook. Go try it out on the water, and if you want, clip one of the hooks off at the bend. If you’re looking for patterns, a few of my favorites are: circus peanut, heifer groomer, articulated wooly sculpin, and conrad sculpin.
I usually use a hook and clip it off with side cutters, but hooks are far more expensive than some of the other options.
I read something about guys using finishing nails as their second “hook” to attach the material.
Not sure how that would work. I guess they would just put thred over it as well as the front hook to bind them together.Does anyone know of a good tutorial?
Maybe I’m missing something but isn’t the goal to hook more fish? Other than to abide by a local steam ordinance, what is the purpose of removing the fish catching portion of the fly?
from what I have read, some people think that big flies, like an articulated fly can be, will get bitten from the head more than the tail so removing the back hook is not a problem.
from what I have read, some people think that big flies, like an articulated fly can be, will get bitten from the head more than the tail so removing the back hook is not a problem. Other people I have sopken to say the trailer hook is definitely needed.
I am currently tying articulated wooly boogers to get the feel of tying this type of fly. We will see how Mr. Brown trout likes it?Kelly Galloup made that statement in his video on articulated flies. If I remember correctly, he felt that large predators could attach and eat larger pray easier if they strike it from the front or a quartering head strike.
I have seen brown trout strike my articulated wooly bugger from the front and it is really something to see. They really liked the olive ones best. 😉Some of the articulated flies you buy have the front hook cut off. One the rear is attached. I actually cut the front hook off a few of the articulated flies I have for the special reg areas.
Another thing I’d like to mention, I was fishing last weekend hunting for a big brown which I saw hunting poor rainbows, anyways, I tied on a 5″ olive articulated and I actually caught 2-13″ bows with it. Didn’t think that would happen.
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