Favorite double hook?

[fredaevans]

This may have already been asked, but a search didn't give me anything definitive, save for a lot of posting of tied flies.

You rarely see a fly done on a double hook on my side of the Pond, but there are a few of us 'hold-outs.' If you have a favorite double hook what is it and why? (Size would be a good addition.)

Personally the one specific double that does it for me are the Silver/Gold Salar hooks from Partridge. First introduced to these when one of your fellow countryman sent me a small collection of Cascades and Flamethrowers tied on these. Hard as hell to find them on this side of the Pond, and when you do a 'pack of 10 will cost between $19.00 and $22.00 USD. That kind of money would usually buy you a couple of packs of 100 in 'regular' single point hooks. The other odd thing is trebles (very rare to see a fly done on these) are also 'cheap as chips.' Go figure the pricing?

Beautiful things to look at but for Steelhead fishing 'close to the salt' (Chetco River in SW Oregon) I've never seen such immediate results. 6 of my first 8 fish were hooked on one of the above patterns. Not a set the hook in the bunch; fish picked up the fly and he hooked himself. Amazing, nothing, swing, nothing, swing ...FISH ON. No 'pluck,' no nothing, just a solid 'I've gotcha!'

Fred

[underghillie]

Hi Fred, It would have to be salars or partridge code Q or code P doubles for me, the salars for all round use, code Q for when i want a light fly fished neerer the surface and code p for when i need a slightly heavyer fly i.e to stop it skating when useing a full floater in the fast tails of pools.

Tight Lines,

Tony

[madkeen]

We're spoiled for choice here Fred for hooks, salars,code p's and the loop doubles are mostly what I tie on now.
I see new fulling mill 'editor' doubles advertised in the T+S has anyone used these?

[underghillie]

May 23, 2010 17:20:25 GMT @salmonnut said:

I dont use doubles. Canny thread the worms up the things. ;D ;D ;D

Are you Coarse fishing again

[sloggi]

If I had to choose one kind, it'd be a Code P. I think they're superb.

Salars are fine and the silver/gold options provide tying flexibility. If you want a heavy-duty hook, the Loop doubles are solid.

[fredaevans]

The 'code' Q and P don't ring a bell, off to Google. Just wish that 'doubles' weren't so GD'ed expensive on my side of the Pond. As noted above, it's pretty easy to spend $1.85 to over $2.00 per hook.
fae

[salmonshrimp]

My favourite is Partridge Wilson doubles they are fine wire light hooks with a slightly larger gape and longer shank size for size. Size 10 Wilsons are the same length as size 8 P's or Q's

Great for low water but because they are thin wired you have to play the fish to the strength of the hook.

P's and Q's are similar to each other with a thicker(heavier) wire than Wilsons. From memory I think Q's are thicker wired than P's or it could be the other way round. I sometimes switch to either of these in higher faster water to get a bit more weight on the end

I like the look of salars to my mind they are not a good hooker so I don't use them much. They are heavy wired and good for getting down

[underghillie]

Jun 4, 2010 1:33:29 GMT fredaevans said:

it's pretty easy to spend $1.85 to over $2.00 per hook.
fae

[Deleted]

Aesthetically, the Salar Double is great looking.

Fishingwise, I am becoming a fan of Loop Doubles - despite the down eye

Partridge Code P are a fine hook also

tweedbunnet

[fredaevans]

Jun 4, 2010 20:28:50 GMT underghillie said:

Jun 4, 2010 1:33:29 GMT fredaevans said:

it's pretty easy to spend $1.85 to over $2.00 per hook.
fae

Now you know why I asked ..... Have your PM and responded.

Never understood (save for "we few, we press-us few' that want them) why a good double hook was so damned expensive 'over here.' But if you want them, and the 'shop owner' has them, he pounds your face in the sand before he tells you what that's about to cost.

You don't have that much cash on you, but 'he' takes credit cards ..

[macd]

Jun 4, 2010 9:17:25 GMT salmonshrimp said:

My favourite is Partridge Wilson doubles they are fine wire light hooks with a slightly larger gape and longer shank size for size. Size 10 Wilsons are the same length as size 8 P's or Q's

Great for low water but because they are thin wired you have to play the fish to the strength of the hook.

P's and Q's are similar to each other with a thicker(heavier) wire than Wilsons. From memory I think Q's are thicker wired than P's or it could be the other way round. I sometimes switch to either of these in higher faster water to get a bit more weight on the end

I like the look of salars to my mind they are not a good hooker so I don't use them much. They are heavy wired and good for getting down

code q irons are lighter than code p.

The main difference, apart from the slightly heavier gauge, is that the P has a shorter shank than the Q.

ie. a size 10 code p has the same hook gape as a size 10 Q, but the shank is akin to the shank of a Q size 12.

I love salars, because they look sexy and to my mind fill the gap where trebles once reigned supreme. I dont have any hooking issues with salars, but my father doesnt like them bigger than 9s and martin cant land a fish on a 7


I dont think there is any great difference between the code P and the salar. The code P is such a good hook, especially for shrimp flies. Plus, they are more reasonably priced. But salars look so good and Im swung by that.

Code Qs and wilsons are great summer irons. I feel the small summer hairwings are best on these. I dont see the point of sticking a wisp of a silver stoat on a salar.

[Sagecaster]

I have hooking trouble with the salar doubles on tube flys, no probs when dressed on the hook, fish always seem well hooked, but on tubes I've had a few come unstuck after a seemingly good solid take.

Have reverted to back to Loop, is there an alternative, bar going back to trebles?

[salmonshrimp]

Jun 7, 2010 18:44:58 GMT Sagecaster said:

I have hooking trouble with the salar doubles on tube flys, no probs when dressed on the hook, fish always seem well hooked, but on tubes I've had a few come unstuck after a seemingly good solid take.

Have reverted to back to Loop, is there an alternative, bar going back to trebles?

For tubes Partridge Big Mouth doubles could be a good alternative, short shank big gape

[madkeen]

Jun 7, 2010 18:44:58 GMT Sagecaster said:

I have hooking trouble with the salar doubles on tube flys, no probs when dressed on the hook, fish always seem well hooked, but on tubes I've had a few come unstuck after a seemingly good solid take.

Have reverted to back to Loop, is there an alternative, bar going back to trebles?

The loop dbles are good but this season I bought some guideline dbles from Helmie and these are stronger and imo sharper, not cheap but nice.

[Sagecaster]

Cheers SS and MK will give them both a go.