the folding fuji-type of hook keepers used on fly rods... how do you orientate it? from an open 90 degree to the blank, in a downwards closing arc towards the grip, or towards the tip of the rod? i'm thinking of aerodynamic reason, folding towards the grip... ;-)

eric
fresno, ca.

I don't know that there's "right" way to mount them, but I once saw a sketch of one mounted so that it folded closed toward the grip. It made sense to me and that's what I do whenever I used them. But I don't think it makes any big difference if you want to mount them the other way, they are far too small and too close to the fulcrum to have any effect on aerodynamics.

i set it up folding towards the grip. when you unfold it it stops at an angle that makes it easy to "hook" the hook on it.

From a practical standpoint you want the hinge towards the tip. That way it will not tend to close with the tug of the fly and line against it.

Eric
Don't use the folding hook keeper. It will snag the fly line, if not every time, at least once when it's really important.
I have put them on rods for years & it has happened many times.
gil

Eric:

Again, why put on a hook keeper? From a veteran fly fisherman's perspective, they do not have much value.

Here is an alternative. Wrap the line as it comes from the tip around the barrel of the reel and hook the fly on a convenient guide. When you do this, the fly line extends past the tip and down the rod a ways and the leader curls around the barrel of the reel and up to the fly on a convenient guide. When you wish to fish, the fly is unhooked, and sufficient line easily shakes out of the tip. Without this simple expedient, you have to really work to get the line out through the tip, since only the leader will be outside the guides when you use a hook keeper.

However, if your customer wishes a hook keeper, ask him/her where they prefer it to be located and which type they prefer.

Doug Weber
Weber Rod Works

thanks everyone..

i was sorta joking about the aerodynamics. although i scramble over boulders faster and with more abandon than some i fish with, the idea such a little doo hickey could affect aerodynamcs is somewhat laughable, no? :-) i was just curious since i recently saw a photo of a folding hook keeper mounted the opposite of what i've done (once). the closing arc was towards the tip top, which i found odd at the time. seems backwards if one simly ran the line from the tip top to the keeper, but makes more sense if one wraps the line around the base and back up. in the end, it really is all about whatever you choose it sounds like. which brings me to another point....

... i've decided that hook keepers are not practical or helpful in my situation. like doug outlined, i wrap my line around the reel's base and back up to a convenient guide, which helps facilitate constant moving on a stream from spot to spot without having to deal with working a line back through the guides each and everytime, which adds up quite a bit over a day's fishing. i'm thinking about using folding hook keepers on occasion simply because i think they're... neat. i'll keep an eye out for the line catching on the keeper as gil mentioned but i have yet to fish that first rod with a folding hook keeper.

thanks again

eric
fresno, ca.

I have found it is best to put the folding hook keeper with the hinge towards the cork grip as that way if you have it towards the tip I have had fisherman put such a torque on holding the hook that they actually pulled the fold down hook keeper right out of the thread wrap.


Neal's Fishing Products
www.nealsfishingtackle.com

I do what Doug suggests...well I did back when I actually fished. I would pull the line from the tip, loop it around the reel, and hook it on the first or second snake. This gives me approx. 12-14' of line already off the rod if I need to make a quick cast. When fishing the false albacore in the fall they often break right off the boat. That 12' of line may be all you need to just slap the fly in the water for a couple fast strips.

Jay

Silly folding hook keeper is right. They look like zipper pulls. I too go around the foot of the reel and on up to a guide. Using the hook keeper puts a kink in the leader from the tip top.

tony