Size 30 hooks

by Timothy Hyer-Devine
(Menomonee Falls, WI)

I had gotten some Varivas 2300 #30 ultra midge hooks. They are listed as 4x fine micro barb. If there is a barb, I can't see it. The other thing I can barely see is the eye. Threading them is a nightmare. I came across the Gamakatsu C12-BM. They are a curved nymph style midge hook. They are also barbless. But the best feature is the eye. They are listed as Big Eye. I'll let the photos say the rest. (The 30 mph wind and frozen rivers/streams here in the midst of the POLAR VORTEX leave all experimentation a few months down the road.)

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.

Seriously, all the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are dangerously sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.

Also, all the rods sold on TenkaraBum.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!