Davy Wotton In Line
+Dry Fly ; Nymph,
Emerger Hooks
In fly fishing technology, "traditional" is a word often used to define a fishing method, a style of fly, or indeed a fishing hook. It is not always easy to think forward of many of these traditional values, nevertheless the understanding of all aspects related to fly fishing and equipment has come a long way the past 100 years. Certainly many of the termed traditional values should always remain with us.

The new K17 hook is one example of a break with tradition over the already accepted hook patterns.

Go back if you will, remember at one time gut was fastened to the hook shank before the fly was actually tied. Then came the addition of the metal hook eye, the upturned eye traditionally for the dry fly, the down turned eye for the wet fly. In recent years the down eye has been more so used for dry fly patterns. Now Partridge along with Davy Wotton itroduce the K17 In Line eye, a new and significant advance in fly hook design.

The major concept of this hook is that the relative angle of the hook eye is far less obtrusive and visible from the fishes zone of vision looking up or forward. The hook eye tippet attachment becomes more diminutive at this crucial point, especially so when small hooks are used. This hook has a wide application of uses from the traditional style hackled dry fly, no hackled, emergers and duns, and regular style nymph patterns. The relative angle of the hook should provide for a greater degree of articulation during a fishing situation. More so if the Duncan knot is used.

Given that the hook eye is set well above the hook shank line, this leads to a visible detachment of tippet to eye as seen from below in the prevailing overhead light conditions, especially so when dry fly and surface fished emergers are used. This factor also applies when (Chironomid) midge nymph patterns are used in a surface fished situation. The former statement simply means that a short distance may occur from the tippet knot to a point when the tippet will actually touch the water. It is common practice today to use down and ring eye for surface fished patterns.

Davy Wotton's studies on stream and in tanks conclude that most definitely the IN LINE EYE is far less obtrusive and offers considerable advantages over the more conventional hook styles.

Long Shank Mayfly Hooks
designed by Jens Pilgaard

Every flyfisher who has seen a large mayfly must admit that it is a fascinating insect, which calls for admiration and a wish for being able to imitate its perfection, because of its grace and beauty.

I have tried to combine these details into my Large Mayfly hook by giving it shape as if it was a part of the natural insect itself. By using this hook, the fly tier can now produce such flies with the wing slightly pointed backwards. This will enable the flyfisher to improve his casts and at the same time give him a fly which stands correctly on the water, especially if the fly is tied with a parachute hackle on a dubbing-ball or a base of poly-yarn underneath the thorax.

The hook can also be tied with a traditional hackle in front of the wing, which will lift the leader up and away from the fly. This is a distinct plus for a fly in clear water when you fish for shy fish.

Tying nymphs on the hook
Not only can the hook be used as a dry fly hook, but also for tying realistic nymph imitations. This can only be done because the hook takes its starting point in the shape of the insect and makes it possible for even the very beginner to make some really nice nymphs by only putting some dubbing on the hooks.

Tight lines

Jens Pilgaard .

Long Shank Mayfly Hooks
designed by Jens Pilgaard

Presenting a small mayfly for the fish is often a delicate matter. This might not only require a skilled flysfisher, but also a correct presentation of the fly, as fishing with these imitations is often in gin-clear waters. Leader shy fish are often very hard to deal with, so even the smallest detail should be taken into consideration.

My idea with this hook is to be able to dress a fly and according to the way in vhsinc it is done, I will achieve specific results. If the fly is tied with a parachute underneath the body and a tail pointing slightly down, you will get a fly which will stand on the water with the point above the surface and a high leader.

You can also tie the fly in a traditional style and you will see that the leader is even being lifted higher and further away from the fly than usual. If you try to make combinations between different styles, you will get other useful results, but they all have one thing in common: the fly has the shape of the real insectl.

Remember: a dry fly should stand on the water and not in the water!!!

I designed the hook for my Origami-wings, but they can be dressed with any wing from Eric Otzinger's wonderwings to traditional feather and poly wings.