Hook Tyer

[jasper]

Probably a silly question but bear with me I'm a bit behind the times .

I have been looking at the Matchman Hook tyer which looks quite a handy tool to have in the tackle box. can someone tell if this is only for Spade end hooks? if so is there a tyer for eyed hooks?

[barbelblanker]

The two I use are the Matchman and the Drennan.

They are both for spade ends.

To be straight with you I just don't know why you'd want one for tying a plain eyed hook.

If you are after something to help with knotless knots then there are various gadgets round for that . These usually help you with guaging the hair length though.

You'll also find stuff to help with loops.

As for tying the eyed hooks, I've never had a tucked half blood knot let me down UNLESS I've poorly tied it or tightenend it without wetting it (and I know it was that because I remember thinking, ahh well it's not that important).

Practise makes perfect. Get some cheap nylon and big hooks and just have a go.

usually when I am tyying up batchs of hooks to nylon I start with the biggest (18 or 20 as I'll tie 16 and above as I need them), and go smaller.

Hope that helps.

[flydog]

Hi Jasper, I found an hook tyer years ago, its called a cinch knot tyer, could'nt fathom out how it worked until I went on to you tube, they are so simple to use, so have a look on you tube you find plenty on there and also plenty of information. max.

[Greenheart]

Been using the matchman type hook tyers for years. Great bit of kit, especially now my eyesights starting to go. It's either that or get some longer arms....

[jasper]

Originally Posted by Greenheart

Been using the matchman type hook tyers for years. Great bit of kit, especially now my eyesights starting to go. It's either that or get some longer arms....

Many thanks all for the replies

I'm glad you said that Greenheart as my eyesight seems pretty poor lately, I'm not sure if its sitting infront of a Monitor on a off for a good few years thats done it but I'm finding it hard to thread the eyes these days.

[Jolly Piscator]

The matchman is a great tool & I use it for tying all my small hooks which I buy in spade end style for that reason . I have used it successfully to tie eyed hooks in a spade fashion ( ie. Tied on the shank with the eye acting as a spade ) .
Good luck & don't worry you not alone , I found knot tying the most challenging part of getting back into angling , lines had got thinner & and my fingers so much fatter than when I was a kid .
If it's threading the hook eye that's proving difficult then maybe a fly hook threader would work ? I've not used one so best check it'd work on a plain hook .

[jasper]

Originally Posted by Jolly Piscator

The matchman is a great tool & I use it for tying all my small hooks which I buy in spade end style for that reason . I have used it successfully to tie eyed hooks in a spade fashion ( ie. Tied on the shank with the eye acting as a spade ) .
Good luck & don't worry you not alone , I found knot tying the most challenging part of getting back into angling , lines had got thinner & and my fingers so much fatter than when I was a kid .
If it's threading the hook eye that's proving difficult then maybe a fly hook threader would work ? I've not used one so best check it'd work on a plain hook .

Much apreciated Jolly for the the advice .

sounds like thats the way I will be doing it from now on, I just realy got back into fishing and was shocked quite how bad my eyes are these days. I sat for ages trying to thread some 3lb line through a 16 hook before my 15 year old son finally came over and did it first time .

[PikeHunter]

I have the matchman one. Waste of time buying it lol no matter what i do it doesnt work. Or if it looks like its gonna work, i end up with a half assed hair rig that i dont want!

[BoldBear]

I have used the matchman type of hook tyer for tying small spade end hooks for years and it has been invaluable, although nowerdays I tend to use ready tied hooks; especially as the knots have become much more reliably tied than they used to be years ago; plus my eyes are not as good as they used to be.

On hooks of size 12 and above I use eyed hooks and I tie my own using the ‘Grinner’ knot (named after Richard Walkers son) which is quite an easy knot to tie and is very reliable. Or the knotless knot when using a hair rig.