I'm trying to source some cheap shanks with an upturn eye and return loop. They are for trailer flies and my design won't allow for waddingtons or cotter pins so it has to be a chopped hook. The best fit I've found so far is the Mustad 36890. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
a regular double-Waddington can be cut to yield 2 return-eye single-shanks, and you can use pliers to make the rear-side return upturned if you like. The 2-for-1 deal you get with Waddingtons makes their price similar (or better) than cutting up single hooks
I think I've heard of people using piano wire and just cut and bent to the desired eye shape and length?....also the wire used for tying up spinners...basically the same thing.
I've been building my own with stainless welding wire (similar to piano wire) its about $30 for a 2lbs spool. It works great. Just get the bend started by hand then put it in the jaws of your vice with the free end below where the jaws clamp together (between the jaws but not clamped in) and use a pair of pliers to pinch them together then wrap some thread and whip it off to keep the 2 ends together. If you want an up turned eye just take the pliers and get a good grip on the loop you just made and turn it till you get the eye shape you want.
cheapest I have found are spinner bait shafts available from a number of lure component manufacturers. they come in a number of different shapes. i bought some from jannsnetcraft.com
if thee don't have what you are looking for as a standard shape, you may find it economical to buy the wire and a bender and make what you want.
cheapest I have found are spinner bait shafts available from a number of lure component manufacturers. they come in a number of different shapes. i bought some from jannsnetcraft.com
if thee don't have what you are looking for as a standard shape, you may find it economical to buy the wire and a bender and make what you want.
The best bet is to scour for those mustads, i find they are not a graet hook for holding a point anyways. I picked up a couple 50 packs in the fall for 5.99 each at Gone fishing in Courtenay. I could lone you a few.
The best bet is to scour for those mustads, i find they are not a graet hook for holding a point anyways. I picked up a couple 50 packs in the fall for 5.99 each at Gone fishing in Courtenay. I could lone you a few.
I think I found a good (local) source for the Mustads, let me know if you want some more. Some neat ideas about alternatives, I like the hair pins. I'll have to dig through her drawer of hair stuff.
Cotter pins ......... Cutem Weigh im.. If you want to.... And Tie.. Been doin that for years..No heavy eyes. no big cost. Low profile. Sinks fast,, You don't cry when you loose a waddington....:chuckle:
Yes, since the wire is half round, they will cut your tippet ,,,,,if you tie them on the normal way. Don't do that. Instead, bend the eye, up, down, however you look at it. Run the tippet through the eye, thread on a short piece of junction tubing, tie on the hook and push the junction tubing over the back end of the cotter pin. Ala tube fly.
I found some fine wire pins in a craft store, various lengths, ring eye, cheap. Prefer cotter pins though.
further to the above, straight coated steel hairpins, 3" long, doubled and with protective ends, are available in bulk packs:
a few out of the pack
simple tools to modify the bend at the end to an 'eye'
careful crimping creates the eye
and then the eye is bent up to the desired angle - any irregularities as seen are in the plastic coating, and not the metal - but be careful not to damage the eye where your leader will be attached.
the completed set
completed set in full view
as these doubled pins still measure 3", they can be clipped or trimmed to the desired length for the shank you want to tie on.
for what it's worth guys/gals, you can't order these LJ professional hair pins stateside. i wound up ordering some "amish made" pins from a place in PA called Joyce Long's Hair Coverings or something similar. All told with shipping it was about $14 w/ shipping for 60 3" long pins. At $0.25 per pin, that's not a steal but certainly cheaper than Waddington shanks.
small cotter pins are fantastic. they're a little heavier than the hair pins so they sink really well. One thing though is that they're straight eyed so I usual tie small dumbell eyes and use a lefty loop to attach the fly to the line. I've been using them to tie small intruder patterns, string leeches and marabous. I even have a pattern I call they "CotterpIntruder". I will post a photo later.
Anyone know if these are available in the US I have scoured the internet and not found them anywhere.
Thanks
Skilly
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Spey Pages
877.1K posts
23.9K members
Since 2000
A forum community dedicated to Spey casting, fishing, flies, and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about trails, licenses, fishing, game laws, styles, reviews, optics, accessories, classifieds, and more!