Fu@& that was a big fish

mudhen · Senior Member

Fu@& that was a big fish

Skol Bandit · Senior Member

Happens to the best of us. Sorry. The good news is if you keep fishing, for a few more years, you might get it again lol.

skylerjohnb · Veteran Member

Up that tippet! 4x is a min for me on the creek nowadays with the unicorns I've lost.

mudhen · Senior Member

It's not the tippet. I think that the wire on my hooks is too springy and just pops out. What hooks do you use in the size 18-20/

East Bay Ed · Senior Member

I have been using extra short, strong wide gap hooks for several years. One reason is that when you get older it makes it a lot easier for me to tie flies. The other reason is the holding power. It appears that I'm getting the same number of hookups but have a greater success holding the fish. Give them a try.

PC20 · Veteran Member

mudhen wrote:
It's not the tippet. I think that the wire on my hooks is too springy and just pops out. What hooks do you use in the size 18-20/

Daiichi 1140, 20-degree offset bend, sizes 18-22. Very strong for a fine wire hook! Haven't had one break yet!

Rossflyguy · Senior Member

I use #4 salmon hooks. They never bend.

mudhen · Senior Member

Jesus, Jer, you could take a sailfish on a 4ought hook.

PC20 · Veteran Member

Rossflyguy wrote:
I use #4 salmon hooks. They never bend.

Mustad 7970 4XS? (Big smiley face)

Tuggernaut · Member

#3 salmon hooks are dandy. Can't say I've had any issues with the biggins with big hooks.

Nohackle2 · Veteran Member

I use a TMC 3769 size 16. It's 2X heavy and standard length. Most nymph hooks are 2X or 1X long so this hook has the gap of a size 16 but the length of a size 18 or 20 nymph. I use it for both my mayfly and midge nymphs. It was recommended to me by a former Putah creek guide when I complained to him about losing a lot of good fish. It has really worked well for me.