Trailer (stinger) Hooks And Their Associated Risks

[sirocco]

So I've been reading the Bully Flies threads in the fly tying forum and I'm interested to know the risks (if there are any) that are involved in using trailer hooks. According to my visualization/logic of how they work, wouldn't there be a much greater risk of hooking a fish in its throat with these hooks compared to normal hooks, thus increasing the risk of causing harm to the fish? I'm all for increasing my chances of success if this method works better, but not if it means greater damage to the fish!

 

Thanks

 

Erik

[bulltrout]

if you are finding that you are losing takes as a result of the fish "nipping" the tail of the fly, then i would advise putting a stinger on...however, in my experience, predatory fish tend to hit their prey head on as in by the eyes and gills so if that is the case, then a stinger wouldn't be required...just my opinion...

[nebc]

So I've been reading the Bully Flies threads in the fly tying forum and I'm interested to know the risks (if there are any) that are involved in using trailer hooks. According to my visualization/logic of how they work, wouldn't there be a much greater risk of hooking a fish in its throat with these hooks compared to normal hooks, thus increasing the risk of causing harm to the fish? I'm all for increasing my chances of success if this method works better, but not if it means greater damage to the fish!

 

Thanks

 

Erik

 

depends too where you will be fising. Here in BC is fine in some lakes but not streams or rivers

[ladystrange]

if you wanted a big streamer but not the double hook, you could snip off the main hook and just use the stinger.

 

there was a thread in the fly tying about stinger hooks pros/cons

[maxwell]

im thinking even on my big bully flies im not going too ahve a huge hook...little gammy egg hook 3/8ths - 1/2 inch gap or so...maybe a little bigger.....thats what most of the steelhead flies ive bin looking at have on em and if them big brutes are landed bullies should be fine too imho...

[alhuger]

I tie almost all of my trolling flies for big water with stingers. In all of the fish I have picked up I have never found there to be anything specific wrt to it being inherently more dangerous to the fish. The exception is where I have small fish attempt to take a large hook (typically I am on a 2x 6x long). I can state with confidence that if you are worried about short strikes then these rigs work wonders. The biggest worry I see is the fish being fouled with the other hook when you are landing them in the net. In BC I am forced to cut my other hook (always the front is my choice) so this never presents a problem for me.

 

-al

[alhuger]

im thinking even on my big bully flies im not going too ahve a huge hook...little gammy egg hook 3/8ths - 1/2 inch gap or so...maybe a little bigger.....thats what most of the steelhead flies ive bin looking at have on em and if them big brutes are landed bullies should be fine too imho...

 

I can attest to that. The biggest rainbow I hooked into this year was on a steelhead egg pattern on a small hook. The short shank is awesome although I always worry about the gap it never seems to be a problem.

 

-al

[sirocco]

Interesting responses, thanks guys. I was not aware of the double hook regs in BC which is definitely good info.