Straight Eye vs. Down Eye Hooks

[Curtis Fry]

So I'm in the process of stocking up on hooks and I was wondering what is the real difference between straight eye and down eye hooks (besides the obvious shape difference).

Most of the saltwater, salmon and steelhead hooks I see are straight eye or even up-eye. Is there any advantage either way? Does it make a difference in stillwater for trout? I've heard people say it affects the way you fight the fish or something, but that's not making sense.

Anyway, just curious.

[rodrick]

The only time I look at that is with smaller hooks than#18 and it's just totally a personal preference. I want to increase any odds I have of getting a good hook set and feel that the down turned eye might possibly give me less hook gape.

[Tyson]

Whenever I buy hooks I am usually looking at the overall shape of the hook, the length of the shank and the gap. I am picturing in my head the proportions of the finished fly. I haven't really paid attention what size it says on the package or whether it is straight eye or down. So I have used both and haven't noticed any clear disadvantage to either. It makes sense to have more gap exposed, but also doesn't a downturned eye give better leverage on the hook set? I haven't noticed a difference in my limited experience.

[stout_trout]

For nymphs and dries in the traditional sizes...I don't really care.

BUT
For streamers and stuff size 8 or larger I really like the straight eye. Barbell eyes and cones work better with them. Certain larger patters that are bulky up front also work best with a straigh eye.

...big fan of straight.
Brent

[Doug S.]

Whenever I buy hooks I am usually looking at the overall shape of the hook, the length of the shank and the gap. I am picturing in my head the proportions of the finished fly. I haven't really paid attention what size it says on the package or whether it is straight eye or down. So I have used both and haven't noticed any clear disadvantage to either. It makes sense to have more gap exposed, but also doesn't a downturned eye give better leverage on the hook set? I haven't noticed a difference in my limited experience.

Provo river fish dont know the differance...:) J/K

[Tyson]

Provo river fish dont know the differance...:) J/K
Well there's probably some truth to that. Smaller flies drifting downstream is a whole lot different than setting a hook on a stillwater retrieve.

[Doug S.]

Well there's probably some truth to that. Smaller flies drifting downstream is a whole lot different than setting a hook on a stillwater retrieve.

No...say it aint so.....

[Tyson]

No...say it aint so.....
I lob you a softball pitch and instead of hitting it out of the park you bunted.

[Lonnie]

Straight eyes for streamers, down eye for most everything else.

[Doug S.]

I lob you a softball pitch and instead of hitting it out of the park you bunted.

yeah I never was any good at football.....

[«°Ñøvã°»]

I was told this once but have no first hand experience other than my own observations. Doesnt a DRY sit on the water differently if its either down straight or up eye?

[Tyson]

yeah I never was any good at football.....
I prefer straighteye for streamers as well.

[Red.Fly]

A lot of it is preference, but any fly that sits low in the water (parachute's, etc) will float longer if you're using straight eyed hooks. Down turned eyes might pull the fly nose down when you pick it up. Down turned eyes are supposed to give you more force when you pull on the hook point than straight eyes.

I prefer straight eyes on any fly that I want to give some action to. I'll tie a loop knot to connect to the fly and let it wiggle and swim on the retrieve. I'm not sure why steelhead hooks have mostly upturned eyes. Maybe so they can ride more horizontal when you're fishing them deep instead of nose up? Just a guess.

[MartyMcfly]

For nymphs and dries in the traditional sizes...I don't really care.

BUT
For streamers and stuff size 8 or larger I really like the straight eye. Barbell eyes and cones work better with them. Certain larger patters that are bulky up front also work best with a straigh eye.

...big fan of straight.
Brent


I'm a down turned guy except for streamers, just personal preference. {Not that there's anything wrong with that!}

[John Bell]

Straighteye harder to tie Parachutes.

[Herb]

Last night I tied four of every one of my favorite still water patterns on straight eye hooks. I will fish the straight eye hooks the next time I hit still water and switch to the down eye hooks to see if I notice any differences. I will use the same loop knot and lines while conducting the test. I might even have Curtis try the down eye hooks while fishing next to me to see if we can notice anything worth considering. The patterns I tied on straight eye hook are all streamers or buggers type patterns.

I must say the straight eye patterns look a little odd sitting next to a down eye hook in my fly box, but I'm willing to give it a try. If nothing else, it will give me a good excuse to start using the few hundred straight eye hooks I accidentally bought a couple years ago which I have not touched. For some reason I have considered them as the misfits in my hook supply, so I have been letting my six year old daughter tie patterns on them while teaching her how to tie flies.

Watch for the update.

Herb Patterson

[UtahFlyGuy]

Personally, I like to use a straight hooks on stillwater patterns. I think a turned down hook I believe will damper some of the action of the fly. It may also turn the fly upside down due to the pulling and stripping of the flies. A turned down hook IMHO is best with smaller flies, where stripping or retrieveing is really not a must. I often wondered if because of a turned down hook had interfered with a hook-set. With that being said, with a small gape on the hook to start with that a turned down eye could make hook-setting a problem. If you were having problems setting a hook on a fish, I would try a straight hook and see if you percentage of setting the fish would increase. Just an Observation on my behalf.

Side note............it would probably make whip finishing easier.