|
|
Partridge Flashpoint Hooks
Reviewed by Bob
Petti
"These
are pretty trendy hooks from what most would consider a very traditional
company."
Lurking on
the internet one day this past Fall, I learned that Partridge
had come out with a new line of hooks called "Flashpoint"
hooks. I dashed off a note to Dr. Fish, Jeff Pierce, to see if
I could wrangle a few samples to review, similar to when Mustad
came out with their Signature Series hooks a few years ago (read
review here). Shortly after,
a box came in the mail with a selection of some of these new hooks
that are certainly going to be interesting to the trout angler.
In general,
these hooks are all that you would expect from a premium hook
maker. The finish is absolutely flawless on all the hooks, whether
it be the traditional dark bronze or the stealthy black nickel.
The points are exceptionally sharp straight out of the box, and
the barbed models feather barbs that are micro sized and easily
pinched down with your pliers. The eyes are perfectly formed,
and there was not a single reject in any of the boxes I was sent.
All the hooks are packaged in the same sort of plastic box as
the Mustad Signature Series hooks. With a retail price in the
neighborhood of four bucks a box, these hooks are a very good
value.
To learn
more about these hooks, or to find a dealer, visit Partridge's
web site.
With that,
let's take a look at the hooks.
NOTE: The
scale seen in all photos is millimeters.
|
15BN
- The Klinkhamer
|
| This
is the most recent iteration of a hook designed specifically
for Hans van Klinken's famous "Klinkhåmer Special".
A fly that was developed for grayling fishing has spread throughout
the angling world and is know tied and fish for all sorts
of salmonid species. The 15BN has the classic "klink"
shape allowing for an abdomen that will ride beneath the surface,
with a flat spot to tie a thorax and wing with a flat parachute
hackle. Note that these hooks are not sized according to traditional
trout hooks. The one in the photo is a size 16, yet count
the millimeters on the scale! |
 |
|
BMN
- The "Big Mouth" Nymph
|
| This
is a hook that will look odd to US based anglers. A straight
shank hook with such an oversized large gap. A "big mouth"
indeed. These hooks are stamped "Special - Designed for
Competition Flies", which alludes to their genesis as
hooks designed for European fly fishing competitions, where
the rules concerning hook shank length and gap can be very
specific. |
 |
|
BMD
- The "Big Mouth" Nymph Double
|
| A
straight-eye double version of the BMD. Twice the metal, twice
the weight, and twice the bite of the single. Like it's single
point cousin, the Big Mouth hooks were designed for flies
with heavy dubbing. They are also popular for Booby style
flies, and are gaining attention as a good hook for tube flies.
|
 |
|
CZ
- Authentic Czech Nymph
|
| Another
hook designed for a specific style of fly - the Czech Nymph.
This hook is unique compared to other "grub" style
hooks on the market in that the point is slightly offset from
the barb forward. On many offset hooks, the entire point is
offset, from the "bottom" of the bend all the way
to the point of the hook. One these, only the portion past
the barb is offset. Match anglers were frustrated with heavily
weighted hooks being thrown by jumping fish, and it has been
shown that this slight offset drastically improves the hook's
holding power. |
 |
|
D3ST
- Straight Eye Streamer
|
| A
4x long, straight eye streamer hook with a classic dark bronze
finish and an attractive sproat bend. A beautiful hook which
could only be improved by adding a down-eye version. |
 |
|
GHH
- Gold Head Hook
|
| What
do you get when you take a bronze version of the Big Mouth
Nymph hook and affix a gold bead? The Gold Head Hook, that's
what. For those of you out there who hate to fiddle with beads,
this hook is for you. The beads are a subtle satin finish
gold, and the hooks are classic bronze. |
 |
|
HND
- Heavy Nymph Double
|
| Unlike
the BMD, the "heavy nymph" double features a sproat
bend on each hook. The finish is the same black nickel finish,
and, as the name alludes, the wire is quite stout. This hook
would also make a good chasis for a "wee double"
style wet fly. |
 |
|
IN
- Ideal Nymph
|
| The
Ideal Nymph hook is a down-eye 2x long standard wire hook
with a model perfect bend and black nickel finish. Except
for the black nickel finish, this is a very traditional nymph
hook. |
 |
|
SHR
- Shrimp
|
| The
SHR Shrimp hook is essentially the same as the CZ Authentical
Czech Nymph hook, but is available in smaller sizes for imitating
freshwater shrimp and scuds. The barbless point is offset
in a the same "point only" fashion as the CZ hook.
|
 |
|
SLD
- Surehold Lightning Dry
|
| The
SLD is a superb barbless dry fly hook for downwing dry flies
and emergers. The point is barbless and slightly "beaked",
causing the point to penetrate well on the strike and hold
firmly during the fight. These are my new favorite hook for
CDC&Elk dry flies, as well as most other downwing dry
flies. |
 |
|
SUD
- Surehold Upwing Dry
|
| The
SUD Surehold Upwing Dry fly hook features the same barbless
"surehold" point and black nickel finish as the
SLD, but a longer shank and less curve to the bend. This hook
is designed for classic winged dry flies. |
 |
|
TDH
- The Dry Hook
|
| This
hook will be familiar to most fans of Partridge hooks, as
it is essentially an updated version of the L3A dry fly hook,
with the standard bronze finish, forged Hamilton bend, and
micro barb. A true classic. |
 |
|
TWH
- The Wet Hook
|
| As
with the TDH, the TWH is an updated version of the well known
Partridge L2A wet fly hook. |
 |
Did you find the above interesting? | People who looked at the above also looked at:
I have always loved fishing buzzers for many years for trout, it...
Our list of book reviews.
Wooly buggers are one of the all time most effective fish catchi...
The words we use
A Buzzer is basically an imitation of the pupa of a midge. The b...
|
These other stories on "Hooks - Hooks for fly tying" might also interest you:
More about Hooks |
A few random articles for your entertainment
|
|
A Global FlyFisher Publication
Submitted October 29th 2009
The SLD Surehold Dry hook Seems to be too flexible and might break or snap whitch it did in my vice.Looks to be great concept but wire is too thin.May loose a large fish.Would like to have standard wire hook.