Wire Size?

[taky]

I'm experimenting with fly like tied jigs. So far they work great and since the rows of hooks are hiden on the middle of the fly the hook up is immediate. Have a look on any fly tier paterns web for prawns to see some pretty inspiring stuff.



My problem a the moment are the home made hooks. They are great but the .4mm SS wire I've use is to thin to hoist the squid. Doe anyone can recommend a better diameter. Is 10$ each time I order a coil and since I can see it first I rather get it right next time...



I'll post pictures as soon I get my camera back <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':woot:' />

[glen]

hi taky,



good on you for making your own jigs. i have some experience fly tying but i imagine it must be a challenge to tie the materials onto the squid hook. one option (which perhaps you are already trying) is a "tube fly" where you tie the materials onto a tube that then tube slides down to the hooks. i have not tried this but i think it would work well.



i am not sure where you can get the wire you are seeking. are you just buying straight wire and then sharpening the tips yourself? sounds like its a fair bit of work. you might find it easier to just buy the squid hooks ready made....over hear (in australia) they cost about a dollar in the retail stores but i am sure you could get them much cheaper in bulk thru an online store.



another (slightly expensive) option may be to use a ring of barbless fly hooks.



it would be great to see some photos of your creations,



all the best,



glen <img src='http://www.squidfish.net/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/xyxthumbs.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':woot:' />

[taky]

I tie the bits of wire to a main thicker wire. The all procedure takes about 5 min... nothing major! Sharpen takes just a bit longer with a diamond file, but is worth it.



There is no where to get those hooks in NZ, and so far I'm just experimenting . The idea over time is to integrate the barbs on the pattern, and the conventional hooks are not the best solution for a fly.



The wire comes from a spring factory, but the guys are getting tired of me and next time I beg for some short ends I rather get exactly what I need.



I try the tube thing, but when the hooks are not well supported, they sort of rotate over and the squid gets away. The barbs need to be fixed to a rigid body of at least 3 times the length of the hook section to perform properly. By the time I have a tube, the main body, the hooks and the pattern is to heavy for my rod. What I'm after is a small prawn pattern, properly balanced with 8 barbs sticking out on the middle of his body.



It is not obviously to catch more squid... anything moving on the water seem to catch they interest... a $$$ Japanese prawn, a piece of fish, or a bit of rag on some wire: everything has done the trick so far!!! is just an extension of my fly fishing.

[glen]

hi taky,



are you attaching your 8 barbs before or after you have tied your prawn pattern? if before, how do you manage to tie the materials in and around the barbs?



one trick that i have previously used for shrimp flies (for making their eyes) is to get a piece of thick fishing line and then get a match and burn the end of the line for a moment until it starts melting...it will form a round ball (or blob) on the end of the line which then looks like a nice extended eyeball. But of course do this outdoors because i think the fumes may be harmful.



another option is to go to a craft store and buy a cheap string of beads which can be used to make the eyes (and they will be light plastic so they won't weigh down the fly too much).



here are some picks of flies similar to what i think you are trying to make -





From [url="http://www.microlures.com/saltwater/shrimps.php"]http://www.microlures.com/saltwater/shrimps.php[/url]





From [url="http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~cckhrb/shrimp.htm"]http://eis.bris.ac.uk/~cckhrb/shrimp.htm[/url]





From [url="http://www.onlineflytyer.com/showfly.asp?record_ID=98"]http://www.onlineflytyer.com/showfly.asp?record_ID=98[/url]



Cheers, Glen